Noyce Scholar Profile
Robert Vittoe
Undergraduate major or graduate field of study: Physics
Subject area(s) and grade level teaching focus: High School Physics
Category of scholarship/fellowship:
Fifth year or post-baccalaureate Noyce scholar
Name of Noyce institution:
IUPUI T2T
Current academic or teaching status:
1st year graduate student
School and school district:
n/a
Background:
I am a first generation college student. I started out my academic career as a Chemistry major working toward a Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education. After a couple of rough years personally, I earned a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing Management from Southeast Missouri State University. I worked for over 15 years in management, mostly at the general manager level in restaurants. I went back to school part-time at Ivy Tech taking classes in accounting to facilitate a career change. This change allowed me to not have to work evenings and weekends. This gave me more time to spend with my daughter. After the completion of those classes I worked in corporate accounting and finance for over 7 years. Now I have completed another undergraduate degree. This time in physics and will start the T2T graduate program later this summer.
Why do you want to teach:
I would like to make a more substantial contribution to society. I think a good way to do this would be to teach high school physics and positively influence as many young people as possible. The one teacher I remember above all others from when I was in high school is the man that taught my physics and chemistry classes. I believe it is vital that our nation increases the number of STEM graduates, especially from a diverse base of students, if it is to remain relevant let alone continue to be a global leader. As teachers we need to learn to encourage and guide not just the brightest students but, all our students toward a higher level of competency in the STEM disciplines.
Describe a memorable teaching experience:
n/a
What does the Noyce program mean to you:
It allowed me transition to full time student status enabling me to complete my undergraduate physics degree and enter the T2T graduate program.
