By SOPHIE JUNGMAN
Dr. Jennifer Sattler is a longtime professor of science and the current department chair at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. Over the last twelve years, she has made a lasting impression with her expertise in physics, astronomy and biology.
A native of North Dakota, Sattler emphasized that her love of science started at home as a child.
“My dad always asked why my brother and I both became scientists and it was because of him,” Sattler said. “He was big into doing science experiments; we would be like, why does that work the way it does? And so, he’d be like, well, let’s figure it out, and he’d do a science experiment with us.”
She also makes a point to share her experiences with her astronomy students. Like the story of her getting to see the Northern Lights in the North Dakota skies and exploring the skies with her grandmother as a young girl.
“It was kind of a family thing, that we just always did science,” she reflects.
Sattler would later go on to attain a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of North Dakota, as well as a second master’s degree and a doctorate degree from East Carolina University. She stated that her training was primarily in cancer biology.
“I originally started school in occupational therapy,” Sattler said. “I changed my major two years into physics to become an astronomer but I always missed the medicine and helping people. As much as I loved astronomy and I want to say it helps mankind; it wasn’t the kind of help I wanted to be providing.”
She goes on to explain where she was able to meet astronomy and cancer biology in the middle.
“It wasn’t until I was getting my first master’s degree that I found out about something called medical physics,” Sattler said. “I was trained to work in a cancer center, and I calibrated the radiation machines to deliver the dose to the location they are supposed to.”
She clarifies that an example of this would be making sure the radiation to a breast tumor would not deliver a lethal dose to the knee. Sattler gets the pleasure of passing this knowledge in her radiation biology course.
Her time on the NWOSU campus began in January 2014. She shared that her favorite part of being on a small campus is the people and getting to know her students.
“I think it’s fun that I can still see somebody across the hall and be like, ‘I know you,’ that’s the part of the reason I wanted to come to Northwestern is a chance to get involved with students.” Sattler said.
When asked what her goals are as an educator, her answer was clear: “My main goal is to make all of my students somewhat scientifically literate,” Sattler explained. “I know that ten years down the road you’re not going to remember Newton’s laws, but I want you to still be curious. It’s that scientific literacy of finding out the real answers and doing your own research, not just relying on others.”
Her passionate strive for curiosity has earned her a superior reputation with her students.
“She pushed all of her students to do their best in their classes,” boasts student John Stowers. “I think she has the most fun with her classes out of anybody on campus.”
Dr. Jennifer Sattler upholds her reputation and continues to enlighten the scientific minds of Northwestern students.