Associate Professor of Electronics Rob Craig Named 2025 JALC Outstanding Faculty Member
Published on May 12, 2025
When Rob Craig wrapped up the fall semester at 51³Ō¹Ļ A. Logan College, he never imagined the spring’s challenges. The Associate Professor of Electronics and newly named 2025 Outstanding Faculty Member would soon be called upon to lean heavily on his deep faith, adaptabilityāand heart for his students.
Craig, who teaches in the Collegeās Electronics Technology Program, typically looks forward to the spring semester. It’s when students begin grasping the material more confidently and when he gets to know them better. But just days before classes resumed, tragedy struck. George Bricker, Craigās colleague and friend, suddenly passed away. Bricker had served the college for just over nine years as an associate professor of electronics and had developed the Collegeās Biomedical degree program.
āTo be honest, the beginning of the semester was terrible,ā Craig said. āI was emotionally wrecked, but I had to be strong for our grieving students, particularly our second-year students in biomedical electronics.ā
Despite his own grief, Craig immediately stepped in to support Brickerās students inside and outside the classroom. He took on the added responsibility of coordinating adjunct instructors and shouldering Brickerās biomedical electronics course load, which is a subject Craig had little experience in.
It was a challenge the Marion native never expected, especially as someone who once doubted heād ever attend college.
āMy dad was a carpenter, and from a young age, I intended to do that,ā Craig said. āI always had an interest in computers and electronics, but I didnāt think I could afford college.ā
That changed after a visit to 51³Ō¹Ļ A. Logan College with a friend, where he spotted a brochure for the Electronics Technology (ELT) program. He enrolled, excelled, and later transferred to Murray State University. After earning his degree, Craig held IT roles at UPS, a private construction firm, and Southern Illinois University before returning to JALC to teach.
Craig credits the collegeās alumni and current students with helping him adapt quickly during the chaos of spring 2025.
āI have gone from not being able to hook up EKG leads to understanding it and knowing what all the pulses on the monitors mean,ā he said. āAnd I could not have done that without the support of our past students.ā
While the added workload could have been overwhelming, Craig leaned on his Christian faith and a commitment to work-life balance to keep going.
āI prayed on my way to work every day, turning it all over to God,ā he said. āThe comfort of knowing who was in control helped me through the semester.ā
Craig also strives to model that same balance for his students. A devoted husband and father, he lives in Marion with his wife, Anne, his college sweetheart. They have two sonsāPeyton, a JALC ELT graduate now studying aviation electronics at SIU, and Nathan, a high school senior who will attend JALC in the fall.
Away from the classroom, Craig collects and restores pinball machines, plays guitar, and competes in both pickleball and disc golf. Heās brought some of those passions to campus, founding the Black Jack Disc Golf Club and teaching an introductory pickleball class for adults over 50.
āIn the classroom, it becomes boring and frustrating if itās all work and no play,ā Craig said. āA lot of the people in our program are comfortable indoors, and I feel it is important to get them outside.ā
What began as a way to unwind became an opportunity to build community. The disc golf club, with its nine-hole course, has grown beyond ELT students into a campuswide group.
Craigās hobby of collecting pinball machines has also opened doors for students. One of his classroom machines is a one-of-a-kind unit, and his industry connections have led to job opportunities for former students, such as Casey Butler, who was named the Collegeās 2025 Distinguished Alumnus.
While reflecting on the semester, Craig is proud of the college community’s accomplishments despite adversity.
āWe healed, and solutions were provided,ā he said. āThe students didnāt get the quality of education they would have if George had been here, but it was close because everyone taught those classes with the intent to respect him, and we made it.ā
Craigās dedication didnāt go unnoticed. His colleagues voted to name him the 2025 Outstanding Faculty Member.
āI donāt deserve it,ā Craig said quietly. āI just try to bring it daily because I care about these people and want them to succeed. Iāll get emotional at graduation because Iāve lived life with them.ā
For Craig, the true reward comes not from accolades but from lasting relationships with students.
āAt some point, whether on the disc golf course or in my office, it 51³Ō¹Ļually spills out where they just need someone to talk to,ā he said. āAnd Iām glad to be there to listen and help. But what matters the most is when I hear from them years later about new jobs, weddings, and baby pictures. Thatās when I feel the most pride in what we do.ā
Though Craig may believe he doesnāt deserve the honor, his impact tells a different story!