Paul Nash, a polymers expert at HP’s Corvallis facility, never expected to become a teacher. Now, he looks forward to every chance he gets to lead classes.
His accidental journey into teaching began when a steadily growing number of his colleagues — particularly design engineers — sought his counsel for selecting polymers to build HP products. At some point, Nash and HP figured it would be more efficient and effective if he shared his knowledge with groups.
With modest expectations, he sent an email to about 70 people announcing a series of upcoming classes. It filled up almost immediately.
“I was astonished at how much these young people wanted to learn,” Nash said.
The classes were a hit, and his teaching role within the company gradually expanded. Then, about five years ago, Nash reached out to Skip Rochefort, associate professor of engineering at Oregon State University.
“I said ‘I hear you’re the polymers guy over there; let’s compare notes about teaching,’” Nash said. “Skip thought I could bring a tangible industry perspective to students and give them an idea of how the work really gets done on the job. I also thought I could help them prepare themselves better for the transition between school and work, which can be quite challenging. It’s important that they’re able to put their knowledge into practice quickly once they join the workforce.”
At first, Nash taught at a few of Rochefort’s classes each quarter. Then it was six, then 16, and eventually half of the sessions during some quarters. In 2023, the College of Engineering designated him as courtesy faculty, allowing him not only to continue as a guest lecturer, but also to sit on committees that evaluate graduate student theses.
“I really enjoy teaching, and I plan to continue,” said Nash, who receives no payment for any of his work at Oregon State. “The students are sharp, and they’re excited to learn. It’s really been a pleasure. I see this as just my way of giving back a little.”
Photo by
Johanna Carson