Study with Me, David Morgan, Ph.D.

Dr. Morgan teaches Physics and Astronomy at RBC 

Amy Lacy, host of Inside RBC-TV recently sat down with Dr. David Morgan to discuss his experiences as a professor at RBC. 

Amy Lacey: Dr. Morgan, please tell us about your philosophy as a Richard Bland College of William & Mary professor. 

Dr. David Morgan: My philosophy as an RBC professor, and specifically as a professor of science, which is what I teach, is to instruct students, not just about how to use the formulas and how to understand the ideas of science – but I teach them how to think like a scientist. 

One of the things I try to do in my courses is to make sure students are always connecting what they learn to the real world. So when they get an answer to a problem, they think about what that answer means – and that allows them to make sure that their ideas about science are always not just abstract and about the equation, but actually connected to the real world. 

“RBC is a good place for students who may not be quite so sure of what they want to major in.”

– Dr. David Morgan 

Amy Lacy: What are the advantages of going to a junior college? 

Dr. David Morgan: I think the advantages of going to a junior college, aside from just the financial advantages, is that you are in a small environment. You also know all your professors. It’s a friendly environment for students here at RBC — particularly for students who might be first generation college students who maybe don’t have a model of what going to a four-year college is like. So the two-year college is a way to kind of dip your toes into the water of the college experience as it makes every effort to be really safe and supportive of students. And it’s also a good place for students who may not be quite sure of what they want to major in. 

“I teach students not just about how to use the formulas and how to understand the ideas of science, but I teach them how to think like a scientist.”

– Dr. David Morgan