Phil Esposito is one of newest additions to the faculty at Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences. A Kansas City, Mo., native, Esposito earned his master’s degree in secondary education from Missouri State University, and later went on to earn a doctorate in kinesiology from University of Michigan.

It was his undergraduate career at Truman State University, however, that played the most influential role in his pursuit of a career in higher education. Esposito specifically credits a faculty mentor he worked with on a research project during his undergraduate work for planting the seed that blossomed into a desire to teach at the university level. “I liked how he taught, how he did research, how he interacted with the students,” Esposito said of his mentor. “I was inspired. I knew I wanted to do what he did.” Staying true to these words, Esposito is doing exactly that.

Having just earned his doctorate in December 2011, TCU is the first notch on Esposito’s higher education belt. Esposito couldn’t be happier that the beginning of his professorial career begins at TCU. Encompassing everything he’s passionate about, Esposito doesn’t see himself leaving TCU any time soon.

Along with being drawn to the university because of the equal value placed on teaching and research, Esposito especially loved how genuinely involved and interested the students were.

“My favorite thing about being here at TCU is getting to know the students—their personalities, their aspirations,” Esposito said. “I feel like I’m really getting to know people in the setting that TCU provides.”