Patrick Ketter serves as an Assistant Professor of Biology in Howard Payne University’s School of Science & Mathematics, where he is part of the Department of Natural Sciences. He joined HPU after a career that gave him extensive experience in laboratory science, microbiology, immunology, and biomedical research. Although he initially had reservations about teaching, his experience at Howard Payne has helped him discover a strong appreciation for working directly with students and helping them understand challenging scientific concepts.
Ketter has taught courses and laboratories in general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, and biology. His favorite subjects to teach are biochemistry and microbiology because they allow students to explore the processes that influence living organisms at both the molecular and cellular levels. He especially values the smaller class sizes at HPU, which create more opportunities for one-on-one interaction with students. He believes these personal connections are often harder to develop at larger universities, where classes may include more than 100 students.
His passion for teaching developed unexpectedly. During his doctoral studies, Ketter was required to teach for a semester and found the experience discouraging because many of the students seemed uninterested in learning. As a result, he was initially hesitant to return to the classroom. However, after joining Howard Payne, his perspective changed. He discovered that working closely with motivated students and watching difficult concepts finally “click” could be extremely rewarding. Helping students develop the knowledge and skills they need to succeed has become one of the most meaningful aspects of his work.
Ketter holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Cellular and Molecular Biology and Clinical Laboratory Science, as well as a doctorate in Cell and Molecular Biology with an emphasis in Immunology and Microbiology. He also holds professional certifications in Molecular Biology and Medical Laboratory Science through the American Society for Clinical Pathology, along with Certification in Infection Control through the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology.
In addition to teaching, Ketter brings an extensive research background to HPU. His scholarly work has included studies related to infectious disease, bacterial pathogenesis, sepsis, platelet storage, and multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. He has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications and has presented research at scientific conferences and professional meetings in the United States and internationally.
Outside of the classroom, Ketter enjoys woodworking, construction projects, and working outdoors. He also enjoys weightlifting and staying active when his schedule allows. He and his family are members of Coggin Baptist Church in Brownwood.
Looking ahead, Ketter hopes to become more involved in research again by collaborating with faculty members at HPU and other institutions. His goal is to help build research opportunities that prepare the next generation of scientists while developing their critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. His office is located in Winebrenner 201.
