Serving by educating

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Austin Knox | Professor Pawelek teaches the alphabet to students during Introduction to German class at a base in Southwest Asia. Professor P, as she’s called by her students, has taught over 53 courses in the last three years and educated more than 1,000 deployed service members is Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Austin Knox)  

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01.21.2013

Story by Senior Master Sgt. George Thompson 

386th Air Expeditionary Wing

SOUTHWEST ASIA - Fifty two years ago during John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address, he uttered the famous words, “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”

These words challenged every American to contribute in some way to the public good.

For Nanette Pawelek, a professor at the University of Maryland, University College Europe, her call to serve the public good came from her desire to assist service members trying to complete their education while deployed. Professor P, as she’s called by her students, is on her fourth deployment previously serving at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo from January – May 2010, Balad, Iraq from June 2010 – March 2011, Kandahar, Afghanistan from September 2011- May 2012 and Camp Marmal, Afghanistan from March 2012- May 2012.

“I felt very passionate about the idea, if individuals are deployed and they keep deploying, how are they supposed to effectively finish their education,” said Pawelek.

Pawelek stated she has no prior service members in her family, but studied a lot of military history - World War I and World War II - and her areas of emphasis in university were literature, philosophy, film and a focus on war narratives.

“I always make a joke that the university just parachutes me into places and you just figure it out when you get there, but after going to different sites you start realizing it’s all about the small things in life,” said Pawelek.

Pawelek has taught over 53 courses in the last three years for UMUC Europe and educated more than 1,000 service members.

“This has been the greatest adventure and the best way I can give back to an effort and people I support,” said Pawelek.

Pawelek has no idea where the next call to serve may lead, but stated, "I go when there’s a reason to go and so far the reasons to go and the reasons to be here have presented themselves consistently in these deployment zones and it gives me a strong sense of purpose because I feel like I’m needed here."

Pawelek is teaching five classes this semester including three different sections to Speech and Communications, Introduction to College Writing and Introduction to German.

• Date Taken: 01.21.2013
• Date Posted: 01.21.2013 05:46
• Story ID: 100815
• Location: (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)