UA Chemistry Professor Marches In Million Dollar Band

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ­ As director of The University of Alabama’s Center for Green Manufacturing, Dr. Robin Rogers searches for economically sound ways to reduce industrial pollution. But in his spare time, the UA chemistry professor concentrates on two other colors ­ the crimson and white he wears while marching as a tuba player in the University’s Million Dollar Band.

“The wonderful thing about having Dr. Rogers in the band is that he has a wonderfully professional presence,” said Neal Flum, assistant director of UA’s Million Dollar Band. “He has a good sense of leadership, and he knows exactly what to do and when to do it. He’s fun to be around, and, obviously from his accomplishments, he’s a superb scholar and teacher.”

While having a faculty member march with the student-filled band is a novel element, the tuba is not new to Rogers. The 43-year-old first began playing tuba in the 7th grade in Athens, and he continued during both his high school years and as an undergraduate and graduate student at UA. He first marched with the UA band as a student in 1975. Later, as a faculty member at Northern Illinois University, he marched in their band and rejoined the Million Dollar band when he returned to UA to teach in 1996.

“It’s a total release,” Rogers said of his tuba toting time. “It’s a time to let the brain relax and be ready for the next challenge.

“The excitement and tradition of being in a band of the quality that Kathryn (UA Band Director Kathryn Scott) has put together is indescribable,” he said.

Rogers, a passionate football fan, said he does not find it awkward to spend practice and game time with his younger band members ­ even when it means taking directions from the band’s student leaders.

“The students have been great,” Rogers said. “When I go out with the band, I become a part of the team, and being a part of the team means putting your ego aside and doing what you are told.”

Rick Swatloski, the tuba section leader and one of Rogers’ chemistry students, said it’s enjoyable to sometimes point out one of Rogers’ errors ­ for a change.

“He grades all my stuff, and I can tell him that he’s in the wrong spot,” Swatloski says while smiling.

On pace to earn his chemistry degree in December and begin graduate school in the spring, Swatloski said he sees similarities in Rogers the faculty member and Rogers the band member.

“The energy is still there, the leadership is still there. It’s the same type of energy and attitude on the band field as it is in the lab,” said Swatloski, who cites Rogers’ enthusiasm as the reason he switched his major to chemistry as a freshman.

Despite the 1 _ hours of practice time ­ held five days a week during football season ­ additional sectional practices and some solo practice at home, Rogers said he has no plans of hanging up his horn any time soon.

“It is the only hobby I have,” Rogers said. “It’s fun, and you get reasonably good seats at the games. There are very few opportunities to perform in front of 80,000 to 90,000 people.”

“With Dr. Rogers being a member of the tuba section, we never worry about what’s going on in their section,” said Flum. “There is great leadership in the tubas, and a lot of that has to do with Dr. Rogers.”

Flum said he sees good rapport between Rogers and the students. “They love having him around. He’s just like one of the gang. I don’t think you would know he’s a professor unless you went up and spoke to him and asked him specific questions about chemistry.”

Rogers said there are a few similarities between working to make the world more environmentally friendly and developing a top-notch halftime performance.

“Solving problems at the societal level requires an interdisciplinary performance,” Rogers said. And having a quality half-time performance requires each section of the band to do its part. “I see a lot of the teamwork aspect in the band that I try and instill in my chemistry graduate students,” Rogers said. “We want to be able to teach our students to look at the big picture and work together.”

Whether it’s teaching class, arranging to help a graduate student meet with Nobel Prize winners ­ as he did last summer ­ or marching with the Million Dollar Band during the halftime of storied bowl games, Rogers said he enjoys his roles.

“It’s all about being a part of The University of Alabama.”