For many professors in the current academic environment, teaching is regarded as inferior to performing research and soliciting funding opportunities. Dr. Thanos Gentimis does an exceptional job not only securing funding opportunities, but also bringing an unmatched enthusiasm and sense of compassion into the classroom. I had Dr. Gentimis early during my time in graduate school, as the professor for the mandatory statistics course required of MS students. Dr. Gentimis displayed his preparedness with well-detailed PowerPoint presentations that were made available to every student digitally as well as hard copies. There were details intentionally omitted from the slides in order to both encourage class attendance as well as to provide opportunities for participation from students during the lectures. I still have copies of many of these lectures that have each survived many rounds of purging of archived academic materials. Dr. Gentimis has an incredible ability to make learning both
approachable and enjoyable. When an opening came to take a course offered by Dr. Gentimis that was more specialized in his research field, Digital Agriculture, I jumped at the opportunity even though the required coursework for my program was complete. I took advantage of this opportunity mainly because of the type of professor Dr. Gentimis exemplifies: one who greatly cares about the success of his students. That course allowed me to gain additional knowledge and leverage key experience in the
field in which I am currently employed. I credit Dr. Gentimis for elucidating an industry that blended interests of mine in a way in which without him would not have been possible. If you have a desire to learn and the ability to apply your knowledge to industry-scenarios, Dr. Gentimis is the perfect professor to sharpen these skills and allow you to excel in your field.