When Montgomery County Community College Physics Assistant Professor Kelli Corrado walked into a meeting with the dean and assistant dean of the Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Department, along with several College vice presidents, and the President herself, Dr. Victoria L. Bastecki-Perez, she thought it was because they wanted to thank her for three years of service as chair of the curriculum committee that was coming to an end.

Except that was all a ruse.

The group was actually there to celebrate Corrado as the recipient of the 2023 Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence. The award recognizes full-time faculty whose teaching is intellectually stimulating, accessible for all students, and demonstrates a commitment to the well-being of students both inside and outside of the classroom.

Because the College was about to host three separate Commencement ceremonies the following week, and because Corrado wasn’t scheduled to attend Commencement until the 6 p.m. third and final ceremony, they didn’t want to risk the big news leaking to her earlier in the day by accident, potentially ruining the surprise.

Just as Corrado sat down for the meeting, Dr. Bastecki-Perez pulled out two pom-poms from under the table and a beamed a big smile as she broke the news. Except Corrado couldn’t hear her.

“I’m going deaf. It’s a genetic trait in my family,” said Corrado, laughing. “So, I didn’t hear a word she said. So, I said ‘What just happened?’ She said, ‘You won the Lindback!’ Me? Me? Are you sure? Say that again. I sat there like I don’t know what to do with myself. I was literally speechless. That’s hard to do with an Italian woman.”

First job, last job

Corrado, who lives in Maple Glen and grew up in Perkasie, has taught at MCCC for 21 years, beginning in 2002 as an adjunct instructor of astronomy. Yet her Montco journey begins well before then. She was just 18 years old when she enrolled at the College to take pre-calculus and Physics 121 with Engineering Professor William Brownlowe. Corrado needed to prepare for the upcoming fall semester as an astrophysics major at Colgate University, in Hamilton, N.Y., so she took the two classes the summer before.

She’s thankful she did, because the material covered in her first physics class at Colgate recapped half of the material she’d just learned at MCCC, giving her an advantage in the class. It also introduced her to Brownlowe, her future colleague.

“I’ve been colleagues with Bill for 20 years now,” said Corrado. “It’s still surreal to me that he was a professor of mine.”

After graduating from Colgate, Corrado took advanced courses in quantum mechanics at Boston University for a year, then earned a master’s degree in astrophysics from Drexel University in 2002. After graduating, Corrado began as an adjunct instructor at MCCC, and also taught at Gwynedd Mercy College (now University) and Chestnut Hill College.

“I liked teaching more than research in astrophysics,” she said. Because most four-year institutions require a doctorate to teach, Corrado’s options were limited. She stayed at Gwynedd Mercy and Chestnut Hill until 2005, teaching one course per semester. She continued at MCCC for five years as an adjunct instructor until a full-time position opened up as an instructor of physics and astronomy in 2007. In 2010 she was named an assistant professor of physics and astronomy and was named chair of the curriculum committee in 2019.

“Montco was my first job,” said Corrado, “and it’ll be my last job.”

Passion for teaching

Corrado’s students respond to her fervent teaching style, she said.

“I love what I do,” she said. “I love the opportunity to talk about what I do. I enjoy passing on what I’ve learned. I’m energetic and passionate. It helps with teaching. To keep people awake I stomp, I clap, I pass things around.”

One of her favorite parts about teaching is watching a student slowly begin to understand the material they’re studying. Corrado calls it an “addictive feeling.”

“It starts with one student who gets it, then five more students and so on,” she said. “That motivates me to keep going forward. It helps keep my energy level up and keeps me engaged with the class.”

One such student, Corrado said, was studying art when she took a course in astrophysics. After completing the course, they decided to change their major entirely and went on to study astrophysics at Villanova University and is now a graduate student. Corrado said she has five more students just like that in the pipeline.

“I have turned people to the dark side,” she quipped.

During Commencement this year, Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Chae Sweet read from several of the nominations Corrado received from her students which helped her earn the Lindback Award.

“Professor Corrado explains material more than once in multiple ways,” Dr. Sweet said reading. “She uses objects and visuals aids as she lectures, provides real life scenarios to think about, explains the math behind a concept, practices problems with us in class. All these things help us reinforce concepts and make it easy to learn.”

“This professor went above and beyond,” Dr. Sweet continued. “She provided snacks for our early morning class. Her classes have excellent pacing. With all the material, she provided 10-minute breaks from the material to avoid burnout. She made herself available outside of class through email and tutoring sessions. She worked with her students to make sure everyone did their best. She was extremely clear and knows her subject.”

“Another student wrote ‘Professor Corrado goes above and beyond to help her students be successful in her class,” said Dr. Sweet. “Such as offering tutoring sessions, before and or after classes, and time to meet with her during her office hours.’”

“Another student wrote ‘I once emailed Professor Corrado five times over a weekend with homework questions,” said Dr. Sweet. “She answered them all and took the time to help me so I could complete the work. I am not sure how she finds the time to be that available and still turn around graded assignments and be prepared for every lecture. She’s an inspiring and generous teacher.’”  

Inspiring future generations

With the Lindback Award in hand, Corrado said she’s continuing to inspire future generations of astrophysicists.

In addition to her work in the classroom, Corrado is the Observatory Coordinator in the Advanced Technology Center on Blue Bell Campus. She holds community programming and student-centered research opportunities.

Corrado is trying to mirror the experience astrophysics students studying at traditional four-year institution typically receive by making MCCC a home institution for internships. Students interning can learn how to calibrate the observatory telescope and they write mini-research papers. The College is involved with a program, Pulsar Science Collaboratory that is supported by the National Radio Astronomical Observatory in Greenbank, W.V.  The observatory currently helps students learn how to take and reduce images of astronomical objects.

Corrado has also helped to establish a transfer partnership with Penn State Abington for MCCC students to continue their STEM education onto the next level.

In addition, she’s actively recruiting high school students. She regularly brings high school classes to Blue Bell Campus and entices them to consider studying at MCCC and earn a certification in studying pulsars.

All of this work will help keep the field alive and growing long after she’s taught her last student.

“That’s where I’m going,” said Corrado. “I keep growing this little research pathway and formalizing this awesome partnership. It’s really exciting and super fun.”

Corrado said she’s honored to receive this year’s Lindback Award because it validates her hard work.

“I’m really honored and humbled,” she said. “I still can’t believe I got it. It’s crazy.”