I have been a Professor at Miramar College since 1999. My two favorite courses to teach in the Communications Studies program are Interpersonal (COMS 135) and Intercultural courses (COMS 180). I love teaching these classes since these are typically courses that have a huge impact on students. In these course, I ask students to really assess themselves and look for ways they can grow. To me, it's like personalized learning! And even I learn! Which is kind of funny, since I have taught these classes for decades. But each semester, I still experience personal growth from the lessons that I teach. Which matches one of my life's mantras "the more you learn, the more you grow" .
To me, learning is everything. Whether I am learning a new subject, learning a new skill, or even learning a new hobby. The older I get, the more open I am to trying most things. I believe that by expanding myself and growing my life, I am experiencing more of what life should be. Crazy as it sounds, I took up wake boarding at 40, snow boarding mid 40's, and in my 50's, I started camping and riding in the desert. Now, I may not still be doing some of these things, but I push myself to try, to explore, and to learn. I can't wait to see the next thing I "take up".
I also have a creative side that I love to explore and this has helped me here at Miramar. Even though, I started my teaching career in my early 20's and at 30, started my career at Miramar, I am still trying to figure out what I want to do in life. If you ever hear me talk about my career here, I will laugh as I tell you that I have been here longer than my students have been alive. The truth is, working in Higher Education is keeping me young. It allows me to explore other interests, try new things, and work towards creating an amazing place.
Some of the amazing things Miramar has allowed me to do:
- I taught my first online class in the early 2000's, even before online education became common.
- I have served on countless grants and programs designed to improve the student journey.
- I have been a part of the development of the Academic and Career Pathways and the Program Mapper.
- I collaborated with the campus to develop the Campus Resource link in your canvas shells (for courses only at Miramar)
