Meet Vukica Jovanovic

Teacher, mentor and world traveler

B.S., M.S., University of Novi Sad, Serbia; Ph.D., Purdue University

"Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of becoming." – Goethe

I joined the design engineering technology department in January 2011. Before coming to Trine, I was a doctoral student at Purdue University, developing online courses for the aerospace and automotive industry in the areas of product lifecycle management, digital manufacturing, product data management and virtual teams. I received the NSF ATE Student Award of Excellence and Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship.

I spent five years at the University of Novi Sad, Serbia, in the departments of mechatronics and industrial and mechanical engineering and four and half years at Purdue University. There, I taught mechanical engineering technology and computer graphics technology courses.

I played basketball in school, and the game taught me that nothing in life comes without perseverance and long term commitment and that no man is an island. I see teaching as coaching. I would like my students to learn how to collaborate and to learn how to give their best to achieve excellence in whatever they set their minds to.

I love books, movies, learning about foreign cultures and places. So far, I have visited 17 countries and 14 states in the United States. I have tried to learn four foreign languages. I enjoy working with students since teaching helps me grow each semester. I love traveling and spending time with my husband, Sreten, and my daughter, Nina.