Major: Automotive Service Technology
Since he was a young boy, Joseph Ragnanese has loved cars.
“From an early age, my parents enjoyed taking me to car shows, and many of my earliest memories are from the inside of my father’s automotive repair shop,” he said. “I was 15 when I started working for him as an automotive technician. As my experience with auto repair continued to grow, so too did my personal automotive projects. Some of my current projects include a 1946 Chevy Fleetline Hot Rod, a 1931 Chrysler and a 1984 Datsun 300zx.”
To turn his love of cars into a career, Ragnanese chose College of DuPage and its Automotive Service Technology program due to its reputation for exemplary education.
“I knew it was a place where I could grow my passion for cars and improve my automotive skill set,” he said. “I wanted to work on my associate degree, but I also wanted to continue working for my father’s auto shop. COD’s location in the metro-Chicago area allowed me to achieve both goals simultaneously.
“The professors at COD took their time teaching me adept technical skills, ensuring I understood the coursework. My professors also taught me valuable life lessons that I have been able to apply to my career as a technician, business professional and educator. I am truly grateful for everything I was able to learn as a student at College of DuPage.”
After earning his Associate in Applied Science in Automotive Service Technology, Ragnanese enrolled at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and completed his Bachelor of Science in automotive technology. He then began working at Stellantis in Detroit as a technical training project manager, where he served as the subject matter expert for automatic transmissions, HVAC and the Alfa Romeo brand for the next three years. He also developed and managed web-based, instructor-led and virtual interactive training courses.
The professors at COD took their time teaching me adept technical skills, ensuring I understood the coursework.
Joseph Ragnanese
In 2021, he accepted an automotive instructor position at SIU and moved back to Carbondale. He also completed a Master in Business Administration and is now in a tenure-track position. Ragnanese currently serves on the SIU Sustainability Council and is the advisor for the SIU Auto Club, where students are working on and racing a ’66 Chevy Nova.
His main goal as a professor is to facilitate learning in every classroom.
“Nothing makes me feel more successful in my job than witnessing the ‘ah-ha’ moments my students experience in the lab,” he said. “Currently, I am focused on my tenure-track research that, while challenging, has taught me so much more about the industry and the challenges it faces in the trending wave of vehicle electrification. I have aspirations of publishing in a variety of magazines and journals, as well as traveling to various conferences to present my findings.”
Ragnanese encourages COD students to dive headfirst into their studies and explore their passion for learning.
“There are truly limitless opportunities for students who attend College of DuPage. All of the keys to success are provided. It is just up to that individual to use them,” he said. “Becoming an automotive professor has allowed me to combine my passion for education with my passion for automotive technology, and it’s something that fills me with both pride and gratitude. Helping my students realize the true value of their education is one of my favorite parts of the job.”
Learn more about the Automotive Service Technology program at College of DuPage