Civil Engineering Faculty Profiles
John Layer
Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Civil Engineering
After working for 20 years in the corporate world, John Layer decided making a difference in industry was not enough. In his words, "It was time to mold minds, in lieu of molding balance sheets — to teach students, in lieu of tracking company expenditures." For Professor Layer, this process comes through a commitment to education. "Learning is a lifestyle, a quality of life choice. As a teacher it is my responsibility to plant the seed of intellectual curiosity in my students — to develop a thirst for knowledge that is virtually unquenchable."
As a teacher, Professor Layer makes himself accessible to students, serves as a mentor, draws on his many years of corporate experience, displays personal integrity, and discusses individual responsibility to society. He brings a practical, application-driven approach to the classroom. It is easy to see that he knows how to prepare a graduate to successfully enter the engineering field.
"When students graduate, I want them to remember that I was accessible, listened, and cared. I want them to remember my classes challenged and compelled them to search out related educational opportunities. I want them to feel prepared for the challenges ahead. I want my students to say that I moved them to a place where they would not have gone if not for my influence — that I made a difference."
