Know Your Profs is an ongoing series of articles helping you get to know the instructors at Camosun College a bit better. Got someone you want to see interviewed? Email editor@nexusnewspaper.com and we’ll get on it.
This time around we caught up with accounting instructor Amy Hoggard and talked about knuckle-cracking, fraud, and handbag addictions.
1: What do you teach and how long have you been a teacher at Camosun?
I’ve been teaching at Camosun for five years. I’m an accounting instructor and I teach financial accounting, auditing, and fraud awareness.
2: What do you personally get out of teaching?
I love being in the classroom and interacting with students. It’s pretty awesome that I get paid to talk about accounting theory all day.
3: What’s one thing you wish your students knew about you?
I don’t say it enough but I really am on their side and want them all to succeed. There’s usually a method to my madness, and sometimes things are hard and challenging to prepare them for the future. It wasn’t long ago that I was in their position, so I push when needed.
4: What’s one thing you wish they didn’t know about you?
I am a fairly open book so my students probably know a little too much about me. I need to cut down on my handbag addiction comments.
5: What’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you as a teacher here?
It’s a tie. I’m so grateful to be able to be a faculty advisor for Camosun’s DECA [business club] students. To see our students give back to the community and compete successfully in international competitions makes me one proud mama bear. I also am happy when I hear about students getting jobs that they love and that something I taught them is allowing them to do well (attention to detail is a must for auditors).
6: What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you as a teacher here?
I hate having to discipline in cheating circumstances; it’s an uncomfortable process for me and a breach of trust is very hard to overcome. But, to be clear, I will not tolerate it; did I mention I teach a fraud awareness course?
7: What do you see in the future of postsecondary education?
We will see increased online learning, but I believe Camosun’s in-person, small classes taught by instructors who truly care will be considered a competitive advantage and will continue to thrive.
8: What do you do to relax on the weekends?
I’m working on a Master’s, so I don’t get much time to relax, but when I can I play squash and spend time with my friends and family.
9: What’s your favorite meal?
Cho Muang (purple dumplings) at Simply Thai in Yaletown; I try to make it there every time I’m over in Vancouver.
10: What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Loud chewing and people cracking their knuckles.