HFC welcomes Aaron Ramey, biology instructor
During his graduate school days at Wayne State University, new HFC biology instructor R. Aaron Ramey began his career working as a tutor at a community college.
“One of the best feelings was helping students understand a concept they were struggling with. Despite their best efforts, I noticed many of the students I tutored struggled due to life circumstances, such as family obligations, work obligations, language barriers, health problems, and so on,” explained Ramey. “When a teaching job was posted, I saw it as an opportunity to help even more students.”
Inspired by HFC’s diverse student population
Ramey has taught biology at colleges for the past 14 years. He taught at Oakland Community College and Wayne County Community College before coming to HFC. This semester is his first at HFC. He reports to Gillian John, Associate Dean of the HFC School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
For the Fall 2022 semester, Ramey is teaching:
“HFC has a diverse student body, which was one of the main reasons I applied for this position,” he said. “That and how hard students are willing to work toward their educational and career goals.”
Lifelong fascination with biology
Ramey lives in his native Belleville with Jennifer, his wife of 15 years. They have four children.
A graduate of Belleville High School, Ramey earned his bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti. He later earned his master’s degree in basic medical sciences from Wayne State.
“As a child, I was always fascinated with how the body worked,” he recalled. “In college, I was frequently amazed by the biological processes that sustain life and allow it to flourish in drastically different environments. I enjoyed my other courses, but my biology courses were the ones I looked forward to every day.”
Empathetic faculty member
Ramey spoke about what prompted his decision to teach in higher education.
“I know what it’s like to have setbacks in college and how important it is to have empathetic faculty. I wanted a job that focused on teaching, had small class sizes, and had a student population that could most benefit from my experiences with challenges reaching educational goals,” said Ramey. “The best part of my job is helping students grasp complex concepts and working to help them achieve their goals.”