By Emma Sagor
Motlow Buzz
Contributing Writer
(Born in Cleveland, Ohio... husband to
wife Barbara... father to three adult children... grandfather to four grandchildren
and one grand dog. I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. William (Bill) Kraus, one of
Motlow’s most dedicated professors and advocate for student success. His big
heart can be clearly seen, even from first meeting him! Dr. Kraus received his
masters and doctorate from the University of Southern California, and a second
masters from Occidental College in Los Angeles. Using his learned knowledge,
Dr. Kraus teaches here at Motlow State, going above and beyond to not only
provide us with the best learning experience and education, but also he goes as
far as to give back to his students, even though nothing is owed. With such a
heart of gold, I am honored to have been able to take his class last semester
and gotten to know and have him as a friend! I am ecstatic to be able to share
a glimpse with you into who the wonderful man Bill Kraus truly is!)
Question: Tell me a little about yourself,
so our readers can get to know you and what you do here at Motlow?
Answer: “I have been here 13 years as an
adjunct professor in political science, as well as teaching First Year Experience.
I have also been associated with the Writing Center since 2015, as well as an embed
tutor in several English classes. I currently serve on the President’s Leadership
Council and was very humbled to receive Adjacent Faculty Member of the Year in
2017. (Out of 400 faculty members across the four campuses, Dr. Kraus received
the award in this field.) I also serve as one of two advisors to student government
here at the Smyrna campus.”
Question: What made you want to teach in
the political science field and in the areas of state and local government?
Answer: “I have been involved in all
aspects of government and politics for most of my professional life, including serving
as city manager for six California and Tennessee city governments ranging in
size from 5,000 to 100,000 citizens; managing a wide range of health, community
and professional nonprofit associations on a national state and local basis,
which required significant political advocacy on behalf of my occasions; and
teaching both on a part-time and full-time basis at a number of colleges and universities
since 1974. Having more than 22,000 student subjects, to ‘quote the Kraus humor.’”
(If you look at Dr. Kraus' personal email address, you will note he is referred
to as “Wild Willy,” a title he earned in his early life as the top rock 'n'
roll disk jockey in the state of Hawaii.
Question: What do you like about Motlow?
Answer: “I have been with Motlow State
since the time our student body at Smyrna numbered in the hundreds. We did not
have a campus, but met in several classrooms at the Tennessee Army National Guard
facilities. Throughout this period, I’ve been extraordinary impressed and
excited about the overall abilities, dedication and excellence of our students.
I have the opportunity to compare them with those men and woman in other
colleges that I teach at or have taught at in the past, and I will say without
reservation that Motlow students are indeed second to none.”
Question: I heard you say Hawaii. How did
you end up all the way over there?
Answer: “I enlisted in the United States
Naval Reserves, and my active duty placed me as the public information officer
of a naval air station there. I had been in radio as a news director and an announcer
throughout my undergrad years, and shortly after arriving in Hawaii, I went to
the first radio station in Honolulu listed in the telephone book and asked if
they needed any part-time help. After determining that I had the appropriate certification,
I was told that I would be on the air in 15 minutes… My new name would be Wild
Willy and that I would be working for the top rock station in the state.”
Question: How long did you serve?
Answer: “I served in the reserve for six
years, in which two were of active duty, all in the beautiful area of ‘pineapple,
sugar cane and surfing.’”
Question: What made you decide to leave
the sand and surf and come here to Tennessee?
Answer: “Originally I spent most of my
life in California. It was about 15 years ago that we moved to Tennessee, for
our daughter (Jennifer Kraus), who has been a news anchor and reporter for Channel
5 for nearly 25 years. Jennifer was having a growing family, and when her
second child was born, shortly after he went into a coma and was in critical
condition at Vanderbilt. After a long four days and a miracle drug, he came out
of the coma and has been fine the rest of the years. However after this traumatic
time, Jennifer suggested to my wife and myself that we should live closer as a
family and that the house next door to her was coming on the market. To please
her, we went to check out the house, and 15 minutes later said we will buy it.
The rest is history!”
Question: What brought you here to us at Motlow?
Answer: “Prior to coming to Tennessee
and not knowing what I would be doing once we came to the Volunteer State, I
sent out resumes and letters of interest to many colleges and universities in
the area. I was immediately hired by Vanderbilt University, as well as Austin State,
while assuming the position as city manger of Oak Hill (in Davidson County). It
was two years later that I got a call from Motlow State replying to my earlier
interest… and here I am.”
Question: What advice would you give on
being successful in life or in a particular area?
Answer: “Very simply, always be optimistic…
happy… look for the best in people and opportunities, and always have a plan B!”
Question: What would you say is your
favorite quote?
Answer: (I love how Dr. Kraus put the
following... his Writing Center background really shows through with his
answer!) “I like to paraphrase Henry Ford’s quote: Coming together is a
beginning, working together is progress, and achieving together is success!”
Question: So you mentioned being very
active in the political field. How does English tie into that and your work
here at the Writing Center?
Answer: “Writing and verbal communications
are the book ends of life’s success. If you can verbalize well, and write well,
you will be two steps ahead of most. In the Writing Center, I don’t only look
for language structure and appropriate grammar, I want to encourage everyone to
be creative and share more than just what they read or what they quote.”
(When
I asked Dr. Kraus if there was anything else he would like to add, he told me
this: “Future... I live day to day, moment to moment and look back at the end
of each day and ask myself, did I make the lives of others a little brighter
and a little better... most hopefully I can achieve.” I think we could all
learn something from these wise words.)
