Rate My Professor Collin McDonald

Collin McDonald serves as an Assistant Professor and professional pilot faculty member in the Department of Aerospace at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). An alumnus of the institution, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace in 2017 and a Master of Science in Aeronautical Science in 2022, both from MTSU. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration: Educational Leadership at Liberty University, maintaining a 4.0 GPA. Prior to his faculty role starting in 2022, McDonald worked as an Aircraft Maintenance Technician in MTSU's Aerospace Department from 2020 to 2022, Graduate Teaching Assistant from 2020 to 2022, owner and manager of Multi Engine Training, LLC from 2018 to 2019, and medical relief pilot with That They May Know in Papua New Guinea in 2018. He holds extensive FAA certifications, including Inspection Authorization (2022), Commercial Pilot (2019), Multi Engine Instructor (2017), Certified Flight Instructor - Instrument (2017), Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic (2017), and Certified Flight Instructor (2015).

McDonald teaches courses such as AERO 3510 Instrument Operations in the NAS, AERO 1020 Theory of Flight, AERO 2010 Aviation Weather, AERO 3170 Aviation Safety, and AERO 2230 Professional Pilot I. He developed the curriculum for AERO 3510, incorporating experiential components like TRACON Tower visits and concentration projects. His presentations include 'Examining the Relationship between Classroom Assessment and Project Based Learning' at the Southeastern STEM Education Research Conference (2024), 'Examination of Aviation Mental Health Research' at the Aviation Mental Health Symposium (2023), and several at the University Aviation Association Conference (2023). He has secured grants including the Tennessee Aviation Education Program Grant ($4,800), Instructional Enhancement Grant ($2,395.98), and EXL Grants. In 2025, he received the King Schools/NAFI Flight Instructor Scholarship ($5,000 plus lifetime course access). As a student, he earned awards like James Buchanan Fellowship (2013-2017), James Rardon Aviation Maintenance Student of the Year (2017), and Col. James Gregory Aviation Scholarship (2017). His undergraduate honors thesis retraced Cal Rodgers' 1911 Vin Fiz transcontinental flight. McDonald volunteers with aviation camps, mentors students, and runs The Flying Mechanic platform for aviation outreach.