We all hope to find a career and work that we see as a passion rather than a job. Kevin Goebbert, Professor of Meteorology at Valparaiso University, is one of the lucky ones. For the last thirteen years, Goebbert has been living out his dream and inspiring that same passion in others.
A graduate of Valparaiso University, Goebbert today teaches classes in weather technology, meteorological instruments, and atmospheric dynamics–just to name a few.
“I am fascinated by and love studying [meterology],” Goebbert said. “Studying it and then teaching it and inspiring the next generation of meteorologists to go out there and impact the world are all fascinating.”
This fascination and love of his work are evident within seconds of talking with Goebbert. All-weather, from daily wind patterns to large weather events, are to Geobbert all interconnected and all interesting.
“The thing about the weather that I've learned over over my career is that it's all interconnected,” Goebbert said. “And so the smallest things can impact the bigger things, and the big things impact a lot of small things…All the pieces do matter.”
A passion like this doesn’t develop overnight. In truth, Goebbert knew he wanted to be a meteorologist early on.
“I got interested in meteorology back in high school in science class,” Goebbert said. “I was in a chemistry class, and I picked up a book on meteorology and didn't know a whole lot about it at that point. And I was just fascinated and wanted to learn more. And then then I came to Valpo as an undergraduate in 1999. And just continued learning about meteorology. And just I find so many aspects of it's fascinating from mid-latitude cyclones to tropical cyclones to severe thunderstorms.”
Goebbert takes that drive into the classroom and throughout the campus at Valparaiso University to serve and inspire the students that he teaches.
“At Valparaiso University we're focused on working with undergraduates–both in the classroom and outside of the classroom,” Goebbert said. “It's that servant's heart that's at the heart of the institution. We are here to help develop the next generation of excellent scientists…No matter where they serve, there's a place for meteorology graduates to have a huge impact…So for me, that's what drives me every day— to make sure that we are developing good sciences who will do the great work.”
