Career Path of a Faculty at Chandler Gilbert Community College
Robert's interest in post-secondary instruction stemmed from enjoying "the classroom dynamic" and the academic calendar's "strong work-life balance," which allowed for both "nonstop learning" and breaks. Their undergraduate experience heavily involved on-campus tutoring, providing valuable "pre-professionalization" in the field.
Higher Education, Teaching, Work-Life Balance, Academic Calendar, Mentoring
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Robert Soza
Faculty
Chandler Gilberty Community College
Arizona State University
UC Berkeley, Dept. of Ethnic Studies, PhD
Humanities, English, Writing & Education
Education
Education
HSI Grad, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. Robert developed an interest in post-secondary instruction during his college years, appreciating the classroom dynamic and the academic calendar's work-life balance.
2. He engaged in on-campus tutoring and peer support, which provided valuable pre-professional experience.
3. His career path highlights the importance of identifying and utilizing opportunities for professional development within one's academic environment.
Transcript
Could you walk me through your career path, starting with your experiences in college? Please include any internships or jobs you had before your current role.
I think my interest in becoming a post-secondary instructor really developed when I was a student. I always loved the classroom dynamic and found being in that space to be incredibly intellectually stimulating and socially comfortable.
I also really appreciated the professional cycle of the academic calendar. You're on for 16 weeks, have three weeks off, then on for another 16 weeks, followed by a 10-week break.
This combination of nonstop learning, the opportunity to ask big questions, read interesting books, and have a schedule that promotes work-life balance was very appealing.
In terms of internships or jobs, I was fortunate as an undergraduate. I did most of my work on campus, including a lot of tutoring and helping peers succeed in their writing courses. This is where I did much of my pre-professionalization.
Advizer Personal Links