Thaddeus Stevens College Tower magazine Winter Spring 2025 - 18

/// SCHOOL SPIRIT
FULL CIRCLE WITH A
FULBRIGHT: Taking His Love
of Math Across the Globe
When Nasser Bogale showed up at Thaddeus
Stevens College of Technology for an admissions
event with his son, it turned out to be an open
house for himself.
A chance meeting with a faculty member that day
led to a part-time instructor position. Now teaching
mathematics and statistics at the College, Nasser's
passion for teaching has led him back to where it
all began.
STARTING OVER IN THE STATES
Nasser moved to Lancaster from Ethiopia in 2005.
Like many who arrive in the United States with
advanced degrees, he learned his credentials
weren't recognized here. So he started over, first
working as a bank teller, then as a licensed practical
nurse. He was about six years into his nursing career
when he accompanied his son on the college tour
that would lead him back to the math classroom.
Nasser loves math today as much as he did when
he was a numbers whiz in elementary school. And
he especially loves teaching it at a technical college
because students use what they learn right away.
" Math is the basis for measurement, for logic,
for critical thinking, " he explains. " The results are
immediate. In two years, our students graduate and
you can go anywhere in Pennsylvania and find them. "
In the meantime, Nasser returned to the classroom
himself, earning a master's degree in mathematics
from Millersville University and Ph.D. in leadership
from the University of the Cumberlands.
LIFE AS A FULBRIGHT: LEADERSHIP.
SCHOLARSHIP. FELLOWSHIP.
Nasser's academic career reached a major
milestone when he was awarded a prestigious
Fulbright Scholarship from the U.S. Department of
17 : Tower Magazine
State for the 2024-2025 academic year-but
not just in any location. He's spending 10 months
at Hawassa University in Hawassa, Ethiopia,
a place he knows well. He taught math there
decades ago, when it was a smaller college.
Today, it enrolls about 50,000 students and has
expanded into graduate offerings. In fact, Nasser
helped develop the curriculum for its Ph.D. in
educational leadership and policy program.
" Now students are actually using that
curriculum, and it's producing leaders, " says
Nasser, adding that his Fulbright research
project is evaluating the effectiveness of the
program he helped create.
His assessment work includes interviewing
alumni from the past decade to see how the
program aligns with their career outcomes. His
Fulbright appointment also includes a teaching
component, so he's leading advanced research
methods and statistics classes.
Nasser and his wife, both from the Hawassa
region, have been able to spend quality time
with family and friends-something they've only
been able to do a handful of times since moving
abroad. He's excited to serve as an educational
and cultural ambassador for the United States
and to help fulfill the Fulbright mission in a place
so close to his heart.
" I'm helping people here. I know the language. I
know the people and many of them know me, "
he says, adding that he's grateful to have the
support of his employer. " It's a privilege for me
to get permission to be here. "
When Nasser returns to Lancaster, he's
bringing back to Thaddeus Stevens College a
world of experience to share with his students
and colleagues.
Thaddeus Stevens College Tower magazine Winter Spring 2025

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