Don’t Quote Me – Professor Ken Badcock
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Professor Ken Badcock at the awards evening[/caption]
Over the next few weeks, the Don’t Quote Me series will feature winners of the University’s Celebrating Success Awards.
The awards were introduced to recognise, celebrate and promote excellence by academic and professional services staff across the University.
Professor Ken Badcock, Head of the School of Engineering was winner of the Inspirational Leadership Award.
Since his appointment two years ago, Professor Badcock has had a dramatic impact on the School of Engineering. Under his leadership, staff morale has improved, standards of teaching have been raised, and student satisfaction has soared. The School is flourishing and has been transformed into a superbly functioning academic unit.
Describe your role in 10 words
Help to build the first rate Engineering School the University needs.
What does ‘success’ mean to you?
Helping staff and students to go ahead
What two attributes are most important in your job?
Calm and straight-forward.
What do you find rewarding about your job?
Seeing colleagues succeed.
What is your most frequently asked question?
"Why are we doing this?"
What is your most treasured possession?
Lots of memories and few possessions.
What do you get passionate about?
A double play through the shortstop in baseball. Grace, athleticism, timing and teamwork with physical danger at 2nd base. All you could want to see in sport.
What is the worst job you have ever had?
Early in my career teaching, at another university, I taught a first year module on Electrical Engineering –a subject which I am perfectly content to know nothing about. It wasn’t my finest hour; it brought the students nothing, brought me hours and hours of toil and stress, but it probably gave my HoD a good laugh for about 5 minutes so it wasn’t all negative. I threw away the lecture notes afterwards but the memory endures.
What work issues keep you up at night?
Making academic appointments. That is the only time.
What are you reading at the moment?
"What is Madness" by Darian Leader. A book packed with compassion.
My favourite quote is...
Alex Salmond is currently writing it for use in 2014.
If I had a million pounds I would...
Take up day dreaming.
My ideal dinner guest would be...
The cricket journalists Tony Greig from modern times and Neville Cardus from the 1930’s. The clash of characters and worlds would be entertaining.