Kettering University today announced the appointment of Dr. Ronald J. Tackett as the Founding Head of its new School of Foundational Studies, effective June 23, 2025. The new academic unit, launched as part of a comprehensive academic realignment, will serve as a hub for faculty innovation across disciplines, allowing for collaboration on a more cohesive, human-centered approach to foundational learning, one that integrates academic knowledge with professional development from the start.
"The creation of the School of Foundational Studies represents a deliberate and forward-looking transformation in the academic architecture of Kettering University,” said University President Dr. Robert K. McMahan. “Dr. Tackett brings not only scholarly distinction but also a compelling vision for how integrated learning in the sciences, mathematics, and liberal arts prepares our students to lead in a world defined by complexity and rapid change. Under his leadership, this School will cultivate the intellectual discipline, ethical reasoning, and critical inquiry that define true leadership in every field."
Dr. Tackett, associate professor of physics, joined Kettering’s faculty in 2014. He brings more than two decades of experience teaching foundational and advanced courses in physics. His research focuses on magnetic nanoparticles, and antiferromagnetic materials with applications in the next generation of non-volatile magnetic data storage and fast-switching electronic devices. In addition to his academic scholarship, he has served in key leadership roles, including as Kettering’s outgoing Faculty Senate Moderator and as Chair of the Eastern Great Lakes Section of the American Physical Society.
“I want this School to be the cornerstone of Kettering’s educational mission,” Dr. Tackett said. “We’re laying the groundwork for innovation and impact, and that starts by rethinking how students engage with math, science, and the liberal arts, not in silos, but as connected disciplines.”
The School of Foundational Studies will also oversee the creation of a University-wide Core Curriculum, designed to be a common gateway for students into the University’s rigorous academic programs. Dr. Tackett's vision includes increasing collaboration across disciplines and building cross-functional courses that reflect the complexity of real-world problem solving.
“Our students are preparing to lead in industries where technical knowledge is essential, but so is ethical reasoning, communication, and critical thinking,” Dr. Tackett said. “This new structure gives us the opportunity to deliver that education in a more interconnected, intentional way. I’m excited to collaborate with students and faculty to rethink how foundational learning happens.”
Dr. Tackett earned his B.S. in Engineering Physics from Eastern Michigan University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Physics from Wayne State University. Before joining Kettering, he served as an assistant professor at Arkansas Tech University and held a postdoctoral research position at the University of Texas at El Paso.
