Rate My Professor Collin McDonald

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.