Dr. Aman Kay spends his days teaching English and Humanities at Georgia Military College’s Augusta campus, but his heart for students surpasses merely educating them in the fields of English composition or world literature. Dr. Kay cites the Martin Luther King, Jr. quote, “Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education,” as a central motivator for him as he instructs students and prepares them for opportunities in their future.
“Daily interaction with my students in a relaxed and yet structured teaching-learning environment and seeing their genuine motivation and interest in learning and expanding the scope of their knowledge and skills is my favorite aspect of daily life at work,” shared Dr. Kay.
What is so remarkable about Dr. Kay is that his season of life at GMC-Augusta is one he ventured into after leading a successful career at various levels in the American educational system as well as with the Department of Defense. At the Department of Defense, Dr. Kay had the privilege of working with military men and women from all four services and the civilian federal government agencies during two wars.
After working twelve years at the Department of Defense, Dr. Kay retired and joined the GMC-Augusta campus in 2011 as a tutor and an adjunct professor. In 2013, he was offered a full-time position as an assistant professor. He served as an Assistant Professor of English and Humanities. In 2016, Dr. Kay was awarded a Professor rank at GMC. Through his time working at GMC-Augusta, Dr. Kay has realized the importance of a junior college in building the best bridges for future achievements. “This realization has particularly impacted my life as I do my best to be better organized in preparing our students for future challenges. I, too, have developed a clearer understanding of why it is vital to have commitment to and respect for one’s community,” he notes.
Dr. Kay has a sincere respect for the traditions GMC is founded on. “GMC is structured on military, academic, civil and other American traditions that are singular and honorable. My dream is that we will continue to retain and respect those traditions and at the same time explore fresh possibilities,” he noted.
Dr. Kay is also deeply loyal to Georgia Military College and the students he has the opportunity to teach. “I can share countless stories of former students who went on to receive higher degrees and have become successful professionals. I am delighted that I had a very small role in their success as they constantly express their gratitude to GMC. Against all the challenges, our students keep pressing forward, and I can only think about the difference in their futures. That keeps motivating me to support GMC students,” he said.
He expresses that loyalty each day as he teaches but also shares it through the financial gifts he gives to GMC-Augusta. He shared: “I’ve learned that it is not the amount of what you can offer that matters, but the spirit of what you can offer that becomes a contagious quality. When you help one student, you are helping several other individuals who are somehow connected to that one student. They go on to be constructive in life and will be a positive influence in their communities. In the long term, this becomes a circle of success and productivity, and you will always be a part of it. You have forever touched the future of this land and the world in a proud and constructive manner.”
Since the 1970s, Dr. Kay has published a multitude of articles, book reviews, and his own prose and poetry books. He has also presented professional papers and book chapters in academic circles and universities in America and overseas.
He reflects daily on the wisdom and integrity of the following words: “A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depends on the labors of other people, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the measure as I have received and am still receiving.” – Albert Einstein
Dr. Aman Kay, English and Humanities Professor at GMC-Augusta, expresses his loyalty to the GMC mission through his daily work with students and through financial gifts to the institution.