John Hassell, PhD, MBA, an Associate Professor of Software Development at the OU Polytechnic Institute, brings over three decades of software development experience to his teaching role. His expertise spans front and back-end commercial web application development, iPhone and Android mobile app creation, and embedded systems programming, with applications in various sectors including the oil and gas industry's upstream and downstream segments, and embedded systems projects for first responder and defense applications. Dr. Hassell combines his industry experience with a strong commitment to education, advocating for active learning in software development to equip students with practical skills. His entrepreneurial spirit led to the founding of ZigBeef in 2006, the University of Oklahoma's first student technology spinoff company, focusing on long-range cattle RFID technology. This company was a direct implementation of the ideas presented in his doctoral dissertation. Additionally, he has shared his insights into entrepreneurship as a past adjunct professor at the University of Tulsa, underscoring his dedication to bridging the gap between academia and industry practice through learning-by-doing.