Afshin Zahraee: Mechanical & Civil Engineering Technology Professor

On today’s show, I have Afshin Zahraee who is a Visiting Instructor/Professor in Mechanical and Civil Engineering Technology at Purdue Northwest.

Afshin and I have been friends for nearly 10 years (fun fact: we even lived in a fraternity together one summer, long story for later 😂) and I’m so excited to bring him onto the show.

Afshin shares why he decided to become a professor and the process it takes, his biggest struggles throughout his career, what people misconceive about professors, funny emails from his students (don’t worry, no names are shared!), and so much more.

Excited for you to tune in and hope you enjoy!

Afshin Zahraee | Mechanical & Civil Engineering Technology Professor

Show notes

In today’s episode, you’ll find out:

How & why did Afshin decided to go into the Engineering professor career path.
The long process it takes to become a professor and all of the different checkpoints you must hit along the way.
His biggest struggle being a professor.
What people misconceive about people who are professors.
Advice he would give to someone who wants to become an Engineering professor.
The best email excuses from his students.

Afshin Zahraee is currently a Visiting Instructor/Professor in the Engineering Technology Department at Purdue University Northwest. He is also a PhD Student in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at Illinois Institute of Technology, where he expects to complete his PhD this Summer. He received his Master of Science in Structural Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago in Chicago, Illinois and Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

Afshin is an avid sports fan and enjoys attending sporting events as a release; more specifically he is a big soccer (Chicago Fire and Arsenal) and Purdue sports fan. He tries to be active and exercise as often as possible. Not only does he watch soccer, but he plays in leagues once to twice a week. He also enjoys runs along Lake Michigan.

Key takeaways from this episode

There have been times that it’s been very, very difficult. – Afshin Zahraee

I think being self-motivated is a good skill to have. But it's not easy. -Afshin Zahraee Click To Tweet

I tend to put an easy thing first. Something that doesn’t take too much time to do. -Afshin Zahraee

I take notes as if I'm in the class. It's funny how much better of a student you become when you have to teach a subject. -Afshin Zahraee Click To Tweet

You can’t learn if someone gives you something. You have to work towards it. -Afshin Zahraee

I take notes as if I'm in the class. It's funny how much better of a student you become when you have to teach a subject. -Afshin Zahraee Click To Tweet

Just be honest. If something is difficult, there’s no shame in not getting it. -Afshin Zahraee

I think a lot of people think, “Oh, these people come in and teach two classes and all there here to do is boss us around.” -Afshin Zahraee

A lot of work that a professor does is not seen. -Afshin Zahraee Click To Tweet

You’re trying to keep a good balance of being a good teacher for your students and also keeping up with research. -Afshin Zahraee

The best part of my day is when you see the lightbulb moment go off for a student. - Afshin Zaharee Click To Tweet

Links to resources

Follow Afshin:

Website

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