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It only makes sense that Kelly Wessell ended up in a classroom. His mother was a special education teacher, and his father was a college teacher, dean, school principal, and school superintendent. On top of that, both of his brothers are teachers.

"I always knew I belonged in the classroom," said Wessell. "After I earned my Ph.D., I focused my job search on community colleges because that is where you get to teach!"  

Growing up in Rockford, Michigan, Wessell developed a love for nature and the environment early. He went to Michigan State University and was engaged in high-level scientific research. He was enjoying it, but also preparing to answer his calling. "I always volunteered for teaching assistantships in graduate school," he said. "During my doctoral program, I enrolled in a Teaching College Science program, which taught me about curriculum design and meaningful assessment. And while I was a post-doctoral researcher, I was also an Adjunct Professor of Biology at Grand Valley State University."
With plenty of experiences, Wessell knew what he wanted. He knew he wanted to work directly with students, but working collaboratively with his colleagues was also important. TC3 was a good fit.

"I liked the idea of working at a relatively small community college because I crave interdisciplinary work," he said. "At a larger institution, it is easy to get siloed, and while I love ecology and evolutionary biology, I wanted to work with colleagues in the social sciences, arts, and humanities, too. TC3’s small size means that I share an office suite with faculty from many different disciplines, and this has made me a more well-rounded person and a better teacher."

Another thing that attracted him to TC3 was the location. Having lived and done research in some beautiful natural areas, Wessell knew he would enjoy the Finger Lakes region. 

"This area is the perfect place for anyone who loves being outdoors," said Wessell. "The gorges, lakes, streams, and rolling hills mean there are year-round ways to experience the natural world."

Kelly Wessell, Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies
Michigan State University, B.S. (Zoology), M.S. (Fisheries and Wildlife), Ph.D. (Entomology)

In his own words
What do you like best about working at TC3?  
The best thing about working at TC3 is the variety of courses I get to teach, which allows me to really experience the diversity of community college students. I teach General Biology and Ecology, which satisfies my need to go deep into the subjects that I love. I also teach several non-majors courses, which allows me the opportunity to turn people on to environmental science and the importance of environmental knowledge and stewardship. I’ve also helped design several study abroad courses, which means I get to witness the ways in which travel to new places transforms students.

How would you describe your best students - what characteristics do they share?
My best students are not always the students who earn the highest grades in my classes. They are the ones who demonstrate critical and creative thinking, who are curious and have a desire to explore new ideas deeply, and who are generous with their unique perspectives.

What have you learned from your students?
My students teach me new things every day. Sometimes these things relate to class topics, which is always cool. Other times, and perhaps more importantly, they have taught me that my way of learning isn’t the only way to learn. This has made me a better teacher, a better learner, and a better person.