Faculty Biography
Bob Shafer
Lead Instructor, Skilled Trades
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University
ASE Master Technician
Member of Society of Automotive Engineers
Member of Electronics Technicians Association
Bob Shafer has been an educator with Penn Foster for 25 years. Aside from his dedication to educating future technicians and engineers, he has worked in the automotive industry for over two decades.
What are some of your interests/passions?
I enjoy a number of automotive-related interests, including auto design, restoration, and racing. I also enjoy all types of sports, especially NFL football and ice hockey.
What is one piece of advice you’d like to give students?
Rather than memorizing information in the [trades and engineering] courses, it’s better to spend time visualizing and understanding how the various systems work. Understanding exactly how a system works is the key to being able to quickly and accurately diagnose a problem.
Where is the most interesting place you’ve traveled?
Las Vegas.
What is one thing you could not live without?
Access to the Internet.
What is something your students wouldn’t otherwise know about you?
I love flying remote control (r/c) helicopters and airplanes.