Building Engineers, Not Just Diplomas: Kettering’s Revolution with Dr. Bob McMahan

In this deeply insightful and inspiring episode of The Thing About Cars, we welcome Dr. Bob McMahan, President of Kettering University—a revolutionary institution turning higher education on its head with a one-of-a-kind co-op model that combines rigorous academics with real-world engineering experience.

Mickey, Misty, Ben, and Tim explore how Kettering’s approach creates professionals with not just degrees but patents, leadership roles, and two and a half years of experience before they even graduate.

From the school’s roots in Flint, Michigan’s auto industry explosion to its modern-day global partnerships and pioneering programs that uplift underserved youth and inspire young women in STEM, Dr. McMahan pulls back the curtain on a model of education that’s working—and thriving.

Also in this episode:

• The young woman who pivoted from French & sociology to suspension design wizardry
• A Cadillac with fins big enough to throw shade on your garage
• Flint’s surprising renaissance, from water scandal to whitewater parks
• Why humanities matter even in a hardcore engineering environment
• That time a physicist-art historian became a university president

Plus:

• Kettering’s car culture is alive and well (and obsessed with vintage Cadillacs)
• Formula SAE, motorcycles, and the TR-6 that stole Bob’s heart
• Trivia: What do tetraethyl lead, R-12 refrigerant, and a tragic mechanical bed have in common?

🎓 Whether you’re a parent, a gearhead, or just someone who believes school should mean more than lectures and letter grades, this episode proves that education doesn’t have to be broken—it can just be reengineered.

📍Learn more at kettering.edu

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