UC Blue Ash professor marks 60 years of inspiring students

When Jack Spille began teaching in higher education, students used a slide rule instead of a calculator, the minimum wage was $1.15 per hour, and exploration to the moon was a distant dream.

It was the spring of 1961 when Spille was hired as a chemistry instructor at the College of Applied Science after responding to a newspaper ad. Today, he remains very active as he marks 60 years of teaching in higher education. He is 86 years-old and still teaches full time at the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College.

Spille says he found a love for teaching early on, and it’s a passion that keeps him going strong six decades later.

“The exciting part for me is being with the students and being part of the learning process,” says Spille. “The real fascination is ‘can I get the student engaged in the learning process?’ That’s the challenge of every faculty member.”

Born in 1934 in Sayler Park on Cincinnati’s West Side, Spille aspired to go to medical school. However, after studying chemistry in graduate school at Ohio State University and working in research, he realized this path wasn’t for him.

During his time at the College of Applied Science he discovered that he was not only good at teaching and explaining things to students, but he was also intrigued by how universities and colleges operated at a higher level. “I wanted to know what the purpose of a college was beyond just educating people,” says Spille.

He went from being an instructor to head of the chemistry department, to assistant dean, to dean of the college; a position he assumed in 1971. He remained in that role for 14 years, but Spille notes that even during his time as an administrator he always taught at least one class each semester. He found the classroom was where his true passion lies and eventually went back to teaching full time.

Spille teaches developmental math at UC Blue Ash. Many of his students struggle with understanding concepts of the subject. He shares that he always had mathematical anxiety in school, but one of his professors helped the “lights turn on” for him, and he finally understood the equations that were always so puzzling. He loves to see the “lights turn on” in his own students.

“Every student is in a little bit of a different space. The challenge is to come up with new ways of explaining things and giving them ways to think about the problems,” says Spille.

He continues to teach in-person classes during the pandemic while following all the health and safety guidelines put in place by UC. It’s something Spille chooses to do because of his love for teaching and his unwavering dedication to his students. He consistently receives positive reviews from students, and leaders at the college note that his commitment to educate and inspire is stronger than ever.

Spille lives in Sycamore Township with his wife, Jane, who he calls the light of his life. They have been married for 63 years and have four adopted children from different countries who they have raised into adulthood. Spille still goes to the gym two or three days each week, and he notes that he and Jane still like to go out every Friday night to stay engaged in their community and enjoy life.

As for the future, Spille has no plans to slow down. He recently signed a five-year agreement with UC Blue Ash that will take him to 2024. Once that term expires he says it may finally be time for a break.

“As long as I feel I’m contributing something I will (continue teaching). I enjoy being with the students, it’s a real highlight for me. They’re young, you can put yourself back in that time with them and, in a sense, it keeps me young as well.”

Hear from Jack Spille in his video interview as he talks about his experience of teaching over the past 60 years and what he enjoys most about working with students.