Economics professor Dirk Mateer, known for his popular ECON 102 class, has announced that he is leaving Penn State for the University of Kentucky. Mateer had announced last semester that he was taking a leave this semester and that it was possible he would not return to Penn State in the Fall.

I just accepted a job at the University of Kentucky for Fall 2013. If you are in Lexington stop in and say hi!

— G. Dirk Mateer (@DirkMateer) February 28, 2013

According to Mateer’s website, he has been given numerous awards including “Best Overall Teacher” from The Smeal College of Business in 2010 in Critique Magazine. He was also honored six times for being an instrumental faculty member in the First Year Experience. In 2011, Mateer was honored with the University’s highest undergraduate teaching award — the George W. Atherton award.

Beyond the faculty awards, it is easy to see that students loved Dirk’s class. On Rate My Professor, Mateer has an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5, and plenty of comments that explain why he is such a good teacher. A comment from December 2012 states, “Seriously the best professor at Penn State. You can tell he genuinely loves his job and what he teaches. I didn’t mind having to get up at 945 to go to class, especially when there was a possibility you could win donuts… if you take econ and have the opportunity to take it with professor Mateer. DO IT.”

Mateer uses real life examples in class every day that students can relate to, from video clips of The Office to giving away money and food. He was known for engaging his large lecture classes to understand economics, a subject lots of students must take for their major but no longer dreaded taking thanks to Mateer.