More than 45 alumni from as far as Salt Lake City, Utah, returned to campus the annual Professor for a Day program. Each year, Walsh graduates return to their former classrooms as professionals to share their real-world experiences with students in their chosen field.
The Professor for a Day program was organized to provide students with a different perspective on career options and open the door to guest lecturers. Walsh alumni are paired with courses that directly correspond with their careers. As guest lecturers, they speak candidly to students about various topics including the responsibilities of their job, what they do on a day-to-day basis, and how their careers developed.
Walsh graduates with direct experience in education, technology, business, law, government, marketing, healthcare and entrepreneurship were among the participants in the 2020 Professor for a Day event.
Alumna Katie Harper ’15 spoke about her job as an R&D Analytical Chemist at Oakwood Laboratories with the students in Dr. Neil Walsh’s Organic Chemistry course.
“It feels a little different being back in the classroom, especially on this end of the lecture,” said Harper. “But I’m excited to share my career path with students and how my journey led me to finally find my fit in the research labs.”
Ohio Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Collier ’76 says one of the reasons he has returned to Walsh for the past 10-15 years is the respect he has for Walsh’s faculty members like Professor of Psychology Dr. Kim Metz. He is a regular guest lecturer at Walsh on issues of addiction and law in the School of Behavioral and Health Sciences courses.
“Dr. Metz is unbelievable. She has a real gift to connect with the students. When I watch her interact in her classroom, I’m just blown away by how she can connect with them,” said Collier. “That drives everything. I know because I was here as a student once too and professors like her drove me. So, when I’m asked to come back to help out, I don't hesitate to say yes. I’ll do anything for this school.”
