Richard Kammerer, M.B.A. ’95: Developing the Mind

by Chris Gasiewski

Developing the Mind

Richard Kammerer, M.B.A. ’95, often speaks of the energy he feels while in class at Adelphi’s University College. Taking post-baccalaureate courses has rekindled his excitement and passion for academics.

The opportunity comes at the right time, considering his daily life is busier than Penn Station. Juggling his job at a software development company managing a team that spans time zones, school and a family—he has 5-year-old twins—Mr. Kammerer has a lot on his mind.

“Having a family and a job that are understanding is big,” he said of adding college courses to his schedule. “Relaxing and watching TV doesn’t exist. You learn to appreciate time.”

Mr. Kammerer became more appreciative of the life sciences while watching his twin children grow. He was present for their first words and saw them crawl for the first time, but it’s hard to notice other milestones when he’s not around them every day. It was his involvement at their co-op preschool in Garden City, New York, that allowed him to observe the development of the class and their interactions over two years that he quickly became interested in early childhood development. He’s now looking into the possibility of becoming a physician’s assistant.

“It was being involved in the children’s various interests, watching the evolution of how they play and interact, the differences over time,” he said. “When it’s your own children, it’s hard to notice but then you see their friends and how they play and share. It’s so intriguing.”

At Adelphi, he’s taking post-baccalaureate classes in pre-health programs, such as biology and genetics, as a pathway to satisfying his interest. And he said the University’s instructors were critical in helping shape his curriculum.

“I spoke with instructors about my interests and possible career options,” he said. “I went from an initial interest in early education, to child psychology, to a keen interest in the development of the mind and medicine. Being a PA allows many options to specialize.”

Whether or not he pursues PA training after Adelphi, he’s certain to enjoy the remaining classes on his plate. He said the true freshmen have made him feel welcomed in his classes, and the challenge of lab sciences has helped him learn more about himself and his abilities.

“I didn’t expect to have a life reassessment,” he said. “[Going back to school] has been eye-opening in a lot of ways.”