Ugh, Not Cabbage Again

Jennifer Kendrick

     The droning of softly repeated words and phrases that all

sounded alike. The German accent they were spoken with. Numbers

upon equations, equations upon atoms, cell structures upon …

WHAT ?!?!  WAIT ! The mind of a college freshman nearly

explodes. Is this what all college professors are like? Or, maybe it's

just the biology professors. Luckily, class was at it's end.

     There is nothing wrong with a good challenge to the mind according to Dr. Wilheim Kassenjans, Professor at the University of Cincinnati.

     Don't be mistaken though, Dr K., nick-named by students who didn't want to pronounce Kassenjans, is not the totally dry, impossible to follow instructor that you might imagine him to be after just one class. He's unpredictable, challenging as much as he is serious, but most importantly he is an entertainer. How better to nourish a mind than to teach, while being practical, and integrating humor or “interesting” detail into what would normally be rather dry subject matters. Just ask him sometime, “What will testosterone do to men?” and watch him show you, with a slight bit of rose colors to his cheeks and a witty grin on his face.

     He was born Wilheim Kassenjans, no middle name. A smile forms creases in his cheek line when he tells you “I'm the only one in the family who doesn't have one. Everybody... I mean everybody, not an aunt, uncle, or cousin who doesn't have one.” The fact amuses him tremendously. Named after his mother's father, Wilheim was a poor child of parents who were farmers. Wilm as they called him, never knew he was missing anything. It was Boergur, Germany, mid 1950's. Life on a farm, a tightly knit community, the kind of town that made you feel like everyone is family in some sense. It was a typical post war family for the time. He was one of six children born to his parents. “Looking back we didn't have a whole lot. But when I was growing up, it was just normal because everybody was in the same boat,” he said. A typical farm boy, milking cows by hand, picking berries for extra money, and playing folk-ball with the other children. The same kind of boy who loves his grandmother dearly, but upon entering the kitchen, and gathering the intense aroma of cabbage cooking, thinks to himself “Ugh, not cabbage again.”

     Wilheim has never been a stranger to having to work in life. From being the seven year old who couldn't lift the milk bucket, working at a bakery during his early adult life, to working for Central Supply handling medical equipment, he was always proactive in findings ways to better his life and himself. As a young teenager he was drafted into the German military, where he became what they called a “military nurse,” and began the first of his many professional careers. Here he got his early medical training. At the age of 20 he came to the United States. He traveled the world as a young adult. Ranging from his homeland of Germany, to France, Belgium, Mexico,Canada, the US, to Brazil, he enjoyed views of the world that many never get a chance to enjoy. At 21 years old he was accepted into the prestigious Notre Dame University, and settled into life in the new country. Being very active in social life on campus, and very diligent in his studies, Wilheim graduated from Notre Dame with an undergraduate degree in Biology and Chemistry. He followed up his education when he came to the University of Cincinnati and attended the College of Medicine when he was 26. During his time here, he met his wife, and began a family life of his own.

     After completing his graduate degree in Biology and Chemistry, he added Pathologist to his professional titles. He spent seven years doing research with the education he had gained, but eventually became disillusioned with the environment of research. “Not research itself, but, you know, in order to get research money you have to scratch everyone else's back. A lot of brown nosing, and I just wasn't cut out for that. I don't like that. Either what you're doing has value or it doesn't,” he stated. Standing firm to his beliefs and feelings on these issues he actually quit the job, and became a stay at home dad which enabled him to home school his three children. Wilheim returned to the workforce after spending 2 years at home helping to develop and nurture the minds of his young children. He began working at the University of Cincinnati as an adjunct instructor.

     Today, he is a full time professor at U.C., teaching Chemistry and Biology. Dr. K. is the guy wearing the wrinkle-free plaid shirt and khaki pants, with matching brown on brown sneakers. Metal framed lenses surround the eyes that have seen so many things in this world. He's a very jovial type. He is the first one to crack a joke, even though by looking you might think he would be the last to do so. The man whose well tucked shirt happens to show his belly just a bit. In case you're wondering how a man with such an active lifestyle can have a tummy, ask him about his love of potatoes. He could probably tell you how to eloquently order a baked potato in at least five different languages. He takes comfort in the fact that now, at age 55, he has a 4 year old grandson to run him around at home keeping him in decent shape, allowing him to enjoy such wonderfully delicious treats such as baked potatoes and sour cream.

     He teaches with a very unique style, and a strong sense of demand. He pushes students to test themselves, and pushes them to impress him as well. “To me, it's rewarding teaching. While students are in my class, some of them may not like me so much, but once they are out, I always get good comments,” he says with pride. With all of the things he has done in his short time, this is his absolute favorite. It fulfills him. He's one of those people who value the true things in life. When he isn't teaching Dr. K. enjoys a good meal at the Olive Garden, folk music, and researching genealogy. His mind is still curious as it has always been. There is excitement in his eyes when thinking about his interest in genealogy. He still yearns to travel and see more of the world. He has ambitions to take his children to Brazil, which he thinks so highly of. There is so much warmth in his tone when he speaks of the Brazilians and how beautiful of a people they are even though they live such modest lifestyles. He admires their sense of closeness and kindness.

     So, if you ever find yourself taking a class from Dr. Wilheim Kassenjans, relax. It's just Dr. K. Who would be better to help you understand the world around you and how it functions, than a down to earth, nurturing, world traveled, challenging, yet comical guy? It's challenging for a reason. He does it for the benefit of the students, their futures, and families. For the world they live in and that of their future generations.

Works Cited

Kassenjans, Dr. Wilheim. Personal interview. 25 October 2010