As a high school student, Uwe Kackstaetter made three promises to himself:
- I will never be a teacher.
- I will never need English.
- I will never marry an American.
Now, he’s a changemaking professor of geology at Metropolitan State University of Denver, an adoring husband to his American wife, and a proud grandfather of 14. Known on campus as “Dr. K,” he is also this year’s recipient of the Roadrunners Who Soar Award as an Outstanding Mentor for Undergraduate Research, proving himself wrong on all three of those long-ago predictions.
Like most of his peers growing up in post-World War II Germany, Kackstaetter was put on a college track early on. Despite his academic prowess, he found the process daunting. “I had to maintain a certain GPA, pass a grueling exam called an Abitur and take two languages, Latin and English,” said Kackstaetter. “The languages put me at risk of getting kicked out. It was then that I swore I would never use English.”
Like his students, Kackstaetter had a thirst for education that led him to aim high, take risks, and create his own path. While preparing for college, Kackstaetter fell in love with his future wife, Laura, an American on a mission trip in Germany. When it was time to choose a university, his worlds collided. Kackstaetter had become fascinated by the geology of the American West, where the climate is dry and rocks are easy to find. Almost as if by fate, Laura, who had finished her mission, had a family farm in Longmont. Kackstaetter and Laura married and moved to the U.S., where Kackstaetter enrolled at the University of Northern Colorado for his undergraduate degree.
He would later earn a master’s degree in Precious Metals at Brigham Young University, intending to go into mining. When the price of gold dropped below $200/ounce just as he was set to graduate, Kackstaetter realized the likelihood of finding a job in mining was slim. With three children and a fourth on the way, he pivoted, earning his licensure in education and becoming a middle-school science teacher. Kackstaetter couldn’t help but fall in love with the profession.
After earning a Ph.D., Kackstaetter found an opportunity to help others chase their educational and professional dreams as an affiliate professor at MSU Denver and has since earned tenure and a reputation for excellence.
“Picture a geologist Energizer Bunny with Yoda insight,” said Professor of Geology Barbara EchoHawk, Ph.D. “Add boundless enthusiasm, a wicked sense of humor and enormous technical genius, wrap it all up in decades of experience and you might approach the unique blend of talents Dr. K brings to teaching.”
Professor’s encouragement strikes gold
In particular, Kackstaetter has become known for mentoring undergraduate student researchers, a job he relishes. He especially enjoys encouraging students’ creativity and resourcefulness.
“Dr. K has a great ability to foster free thinking in the classroom while providing plenty of opportunities for potential applied research,” said Monike Musser, a graduate of MSU Denver’s Applied Geology program and current doctoral student at the Colorado School of Mines. “He provides guidance, support and encouragement, taking a genuine interest in his students’ learning, and inspired me to follow a career in research.”
Kackstaetter’s mentor role is particularly important at the University, where 59.7% of undergraduates are first-generation degree-seekers.
“For most undergraduate students, it is immensely difficult to visualize and navigate their first scientific research,” EchoHawk said. “Everything is different when you’re the creator of knowledge rather than the consumer. All of our students benefit from tapping into the scientific, technical and professional experience of their faculty mentors as they visualize, design, carry out, refine and report on their research.”
Because of their wide breadth of backgrounds and experience, students’ research varies greatly, which Kackstaetter enjoys.
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“I never prescribe a research topic,” he said. “I usually have a one-on-one and ask, ‘What are you interested in? What would you like to find out?’ Some students need guidance, and others have already a great idea, but either way I love the process of helping them explore their areas of interest.” |
This past spring, Kackstaetter was celebrated for his work to help students redefine their futures. He received the Roadrunners Who Soar Award as an Outstanding Mentor for Undergraduate Research. Nominated by a former student, Kackstaetter was recognized for modeling the University’s CADRE values of community, access, diversity, respect and excellence. When asked about the honor, he said, “Wow, I would not have guessed that. What a wonderful surprise.”
