Dayton Engineer

Bryan Kyle’s career path is a blend of dedication, versatility and a deep commitment to helping others.

Kyle is the administrative assistant for both the Department of Electro-Optics and Photonics (EOP) and the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE). He divides his time between the two departments, with EOP being the smallest and MAE being the largest in the School of Engineering and requiring more assistance.

“I started off as a teacher with a degree in education,” Bryan said. “I taught at Sylvan Learning Center for a couple of years before moving into a director role. I ran the center for almost 20 years before deciding I wanted to do something different.”

This change, along with a move from the Canton area to Dayton, led him to UD’s School of Engineering, where he now plays a pivotal role in various administrative capacities.

“I started  as a social studies, psychology and sociology teacher,” Kyle said. “But I’ve always found the sciences, particularly engineering, fascinating. My wife is a mechanical engineer, so I think that really piqued my interest.”

Bryan’s transition into engineering was driven by a combination of curiosity and interest in the Department of Electro-Optics and Photonics’ technology advancements.

“I didn’t initially realize how much I would enjoy the role,” Kyle said. “But as I learned more about the work, especially the way the students are helping to advance things like self-driving cars and lidar technology, I became really fascinated. I feel proud to be a small part of that growth.”

Administrative assistants are more than assistants — they’re the backbone of the operations of our departments and centers. No day is the same, and doesn’t only include answering the phone or welcoming visitors into the office.

“My day usually starts with emails and reviewing my calendar, but then it can quickly expand into so many different tasks,” Kyle said. “I might help a student with class registration, assist an international student with housing or even help a faculty member move a 1,800-pound environmental chamber.”

Being a helping hand for faculty, staff and students is the fuel that keeps him running. As other departments in the school outside of his own needed administrative help, Kyle would rise to the occasion.

“If I see a need, I just want to make sure it’s filled,” Kyle said. “It would be sad if something didn’t get done — whether it’s a student not graduating on time or a research project being delayed. I do what I can to make sure those things don’t happen.”

For Kyle, his favorite aspect of working at UD isn’t just the work itself, but the supportive community around him.

“The people here are amazing,” Kyle said. “When I first started, everyone was so willing to help, no matter how many questions I had. Now, I try to pay that forward by helping others whenever I can. It makes UD a really enjoyable place to be.”