Chemistry adds new faculty member
0Written by Rita Seal
Ryan H. Coppage is from Hartford, Ky., and he teaches general and upper level chemistry classes.
“I take great pleasure in corrupting minds with glorious knowledge, self-reliance, and free thought,” Coppage said.
Coppage isn’t married.
“I haven’t found anyone quite willing to put up with me just yet,” he said.
He also has no children.
“Those things are weird,” he said.
His hobbies consist of creating pottery, biking, building bikes, baking, running, and answering interviews.
Coppage is a huge fan of freestyle canoeing.
“Marc Ornstein deserves so more recognition than he receives,” he said.
Coppage likes Pikeville.
“I want to teach; most of my family is in Lexington, and this is a good place that supports the arts, as I am quite the pottery addict,” he said.
Coppage has always wanted to teach since his undergraduate studies “because it just suits the way my brain is wired and always has. I wanted to know how everything worked in intimate detail, which also made me want to explain that to those around me.”
He chose to be a college professor instead of teaching grade school or high schools.
“I actually taught high school before, and it was horrid. The inherent apathy that is common in high school hurt my heart-space, so I decided to become a professor. At least then, the students were paying to listen to me ramble,” he said.
If Coppage hadn’t been a professor, he would have done something with pottery.
Coppage’s experience here in Pikeville has been good so far.
“I’ve made a lot of pottery thus far. Everyone has been incredibly nice, inviting, and warm. I wish there was bit more developed of an art scene, but I can’t really complain about the sweet deal I have here,” he said.
Coppage shared his goal in life which is to “be awarded an honorary MFA: have those kid things; be an awesome dad and loving partner, get far, far better at cooking, pottery, teaching, building, and harassing those that need it.”