Tadd Colver: A teacher at heart
Name: Tadd Colver
Current position: Continuing lecturer in statistics
Hometown: Born in Robbinsdale, Minn., and grew up in Utah
Year graduated from College of Science: Received a master's degree in statistics from Purdue in 2003, then was a Ph.D. student in the department until 2005.
Years teaching at Purdue: Began teaching in statistics as a TA when he was in graduate school at Purdue and has been teaching here ever since.
A true educator: Colver made the decision to not complete his Ph.D. due to his love of teaching. "While I was a Ph.D. student, I discovered that I liked teaching so much more than research. I knew that if I earned my Ph.D., I would have to spend a lot of my time on research. But that is not what I wanted to do."
Happy where he is: Colver said his love of teaching partially stems from his father, who teaches math at Gonzaga University. "There's that 'aha' moment when I'm in the classroom and it's not even like work. I am so fortunate to be able to do what I do at Purdue. I always thought I would have to go to a community college to teach. I love Purdue, and our department is awesome. I couldn't have planned it any better."
Full house: When not working, Colver enjoys spending time with his wife and five children (three girls, two boys) and working on computers.