Faculty Profile: Erik Spjut

Erik Spjut, professor of engineering and Union Oil Company Engineering Design Fellow, will retire next month after 37 years at Harvey Mudd. RSVP by May 1 to join Erik’s retirement celebration on May 8, 3:30–5 p.m in Platt Living Room. Ahead of the retirement festivities, learn some fun facts about Erik via this Dean of the Faculty Q-and-A.

Why did you choose to teach at HMC? What kept you here? What will you miss the most?

All of my life I’ve always wanted to learn and/or teach everything. When I applied to Harvey Mudd, the job description was for a chemical engineer who could teach materials science classes. At the time, I had a PhD from MIT in chemical engineering and was teaching at MIT in the materials science department. It was fated to be. I have taught all of the required engineering courses except for E83 and E84. During my time here, I’ve taught music fundamentals at Scripps, an independent study Swedish class to a student with a Swedish girlfriend, and an independent study class on psychoacoustics. For most of my time here, I’ve been able to do what I wanted, including teaching students to build and fly rockets, and get paid for it. What I will miss most is watching the figurative lightbulbs go on over the students’ heads when something finally sinks in.

What are your plans for retirement?

I’m going to write and record music (I already have a Soundcloud). I’m going to keep making videos of my off-roading adventures. I will spend time answering comments and questions from my sabbatical project, which is converting my course instructional videos and websites into Creative Commons and Open Source. I will fly rockets. I have children in six different states, so I will spend a fair amount of time traveling to visit children and grandchildren.

What are three fun facts about you that people may be surprised to learn?

• Former U.S. Senator Mitt Romney and I co-starred in a musical theater production at church.
• I subbed for Danny Ainge when he played for the Boston Celtics (OK, it was as a speaker when he had to cancel at the last minute).
• I attended the same high school as Roseanne Barr, where all three High School Musical TV movies and High School Musical: The Musical: The Series was shot. Yes, I played basketball on the same basketball court as Troy, and I performed an original pop song on the same stage where Troy and Gabriella sang.

What are your hobbies?

Writing and performing music, off-roading and hiking, flying rockets.

What are your favorite foods?

Boiled/steamed Atlantic lobster, really fresh and sweet corn on the cob, anything ice cream, especially fresh black raspberry ice cream.