Mr. Bodak

Mr. Bodak was born and raised in Fort Collins and has lived in Northern Colorado his entire life. In what he now views as nothing short of a turn of fate, Mr. Bodak himself went to school at Ridgeview, completing all 13 years of study and graduating as what Hoplites affectionately refer to as a ‘lifer.’ He went on to further his liberal arts education at Princeton University, where he worked in the Knowles laboratory. Additionally, Mr. Bodak has studied STEM at the University of Northern Colorado and Organic Chemistry at Stanford University. His undergraduate work culminated in a thesis on the intermolecular anti-Markovnikov hydroamination of neohexene mediated by proton-coupled electron transfer. He graduated from Princeton with a B.A. in Chemistry and a Certificate in Teacher Preparation.

The excellent instruction and potent philosophy of education that Mr. Bodak experienced during his studies at Ridgeview made a lasting mark on him, inspiring him to pursue education vocationally, and eventually leading him to join Ridgeview’s upper school science faculty in 2023. Since then, he has taught Core Science 7, ninth-grade Honors Earth Science, tenth-grade Honors Biology, and eleventh-grade Honors Chemistry, as well as the upper-school electives “Introduction to Organic Chemistry” and “Great Achievements in Science.”

Parallel to Mr. Bodak’s scientific interest in examining nature runs his desire to explore the soul. In pursuit of such a goal, he has found the literary works of Fyodor Dostoevsky to be especially interesting and profoundly life-changing (though he believes that Biblia Sacra superior omnibus libros). In particular, Mr. Bodak enjoys works such as Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov, where literature, philosophy, and theology collide, as well as works such as Alfred Tauber’s Science and the Quest for Meaning which attempt to bridge the perceived gap between science and philosophy.

Growing up in the stunning foothills of Colorado, Mr. Bodak developed a profound appreciation of the beauty and intelligibility of nature. Not only does such an appreciation inform and fuel his passion for science, but it is also reflected in his favorite pastime activities, which include hiking, camping, whitewater rafting, and various shooting sports. Additionally, he enjoys playing games with his family and friends, and even prides himself on his boardgame collection. Chief above all these pastimes, however, Mr. Bodak holds Einstein’s call to “rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life.”

Q&A with Mr. Bodak

Where are you from and where have you lived? 

I was born and raised in Fort Collins, Colorado. I was a ‘lifer’ at Ridgeview, attending from 2006 as a kindergartener until I graduated in 2019. 

Where did you attend college or university? 

I studied at Princeton University, where I received a B.A. in Chemistry and a Certificate in Teacher Preparation. I have also studied STEM at the University of Northern Colorado (UNC) and organic chemistry at Stanford University. 

What kind of reading do you enjoy most?  

Parallel to my scientific interest in examining nature runs my desire to explore the soul. In pursuit of such a goal, I have found the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky to be especially interesting and profoundly life-changing. In particular, I enjoy works such as Crime and Punishment and The Brothers Karamazov, where literature, philosophy, and theology collide, as well as works such as Alfred Tauber’s Science and the Quest for Meaning which attempt to bridge the perceived gap between science and philosophy. 

What are the small essentials that make life more comfortable?  

As Hemingway once said, “There is no friend as loyal as a book.” 

What are your favorite snacks?  

Chief of all my pursuits is my shameless love of dessert, with my entirely objective and irrefutable classification of Ben and Jerry’s “The Tonight Dough” as the king of all desserts (with an honorable mention for my wife’s baking, of course).  

What do you do to unwind?  

Growing up in the stunning foothills of Colorado, I developed a profound appreciation of the beauty and intelligibility of nature. Not only does such an appreciation inform and fuel my passion for science, but it is also reflected in my favorite pastime activities, which include hiking, camping, and various shooting sports. Additionally, I enjoy playing games with my friends and family, and even pride myself on my boardgame collection. 

Why have you chosen to teach at Ridgeview specifically? 

The excellent instruction and potent philosophy of education that I experienced during my time at Ridgeview made a lasting mark on me, inspiring me to pursue education vocationally, and eventually leading me to join Ridgeview’s upper school science faculty in 2023.