Daphnie Vega
[email protected]
As he grew older, he began to read science books from the local library.
In school he said, he was the "classic nerd", but was very well respected by all of his classmates.
In high school despite his shyness and "nerdiness," Frankel ran for student council president, and as to his surprise, he won the election.
As a high school student, Frankel began taking science courses that really interested him.
"I was completely fascinated by astronomy; I thought I would become an astronomer."
Science was always Frankel's true passion, so when he graduated high school he was accepted to McGill University in Montreal. He majored in genetics and focused on fungal infections.
Frankel needed to find a way to earn money so he decided to start teaching classes in a Jewish Religion School.
That was when he first realized his love for teaching. From that point on, he knew that he wanted to teach college students, so when he graduated from McGill University, he decided to leave Montreal for the United States.
The U.S. was a completely new place to Frankel, but he knew that to do what he had worked so hard for he had to move.
He moved to the state of Michigan and attended Michigan State University. He focused on genetics for his graduate degree as well. As a graduate student, he was required to become a student teacher. Frankel loved the feeling of being able to teach students all about his passion.
When he graduated from Michigan State, he applied for his first job at Penn State University Hazleton in
1974. He was hired right away for his outstanding research.
"I wanted to win a Nobel Prize for my research," he said.
Being at this campus for more than 35 years has ensured him tenure.
He is very proud to say he has taught the kids of some of his first students and he can't wait until a student tells him that he taught biology to their "Pap."
For a man that has worked in one place his entire life, you would think he was tired of it, but that's not the case with Frankel.
Frankel says that despite his 38 years of teaching at Penn State, each semester is different.
"To have the chance to educate students is my passion and hopefully I will know when it is the right time to leave." Although Frankel can retire, he said this is all he knows and all he wants to do.
Frankel says the right time to retire is when "they pry the chalk out of my hand."
So until then, many more students will have the chance to experience Frankel's biology courses.