Share
It is clear however, that at this point, McLeod?s focus is the instruction of economics. ?Music is just a hobby for me now,? he said. ?You can?t stay up until 2 o?clock in the morning playing a gig and then try to teach an 8 a.m. class.?
Other signs point to this as well. His hesitation and careful choice of words when asked about the party life on the road leads one to believe there are certain adventures that have been left behind, not to be retold to his students.
Regardless of whether McLeod sowed his share of wild oats during his years of musical escape, he is currently an esteemed, award-winning faculty member. As a recent top 10 finalist for the Students Choice Award for Faculty Member of the Year, McLeod has earned the respect of both his fellow faculty and his students.
?He uses odd examples that catch our attention and then I can remember the material a lot better,? said Carla Truex, a student of McLeod?s and junior communication major.
In 2001, McLeod decided it was time to release a long overdue solo CD. ?OutLoud,? his first album, features some of the original members of ?The Kind.? McLeod?s lyrics run the gamut and are not without a fair dose of philosophical ramblings.
?My wife teases me,? McLeod said. ?She says that I can?t write a simple song. I start writing something simple and it becomes the meaning of the universe.?
McLeod?s long trip here at Tech is coming to a close this year, as he prepares to begin a teaching career at Penn State University. According to members of the economics department, it was a desperate effort to retain McLeod, but in the end Penn State had more to offer.
?The department tried really hard to keep him,? said Ashley. ?We had the full support of the college and university, but in the end we just don?t have the resources to compete with Penn State, which is a shame.?
As McLeod leaves the town where he first fell in love with performing music, he seems to know that despite success as an economics teacher, it is still his days as lead singer of ?The Kind? that excite students the most.
?People in my class always ask me to break out the guitar and sing a song or something,? McLeod said. ?But when I play a gig no one wants me to talk about economics.?
Continue Reading: « Previous12
Leave a comment 0 Comments Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.