Know Your Profs is an ongoing series of profiles on the instructors at Camosun College. Every issue we ask a different instructor at Camosun the same 10 questions in an attempt to get to know them a little better.
Do you have an instructor that you want to see interviewed in the paper? Maybe you want to know more about one of your teachers, but you’re too busy, or shy, to ask? Email editor@nexusnewspaper.com and we’ll add your instructor to our list of teachers to talk to.
This issue, we talked to Camosun Biology instructor Sarah Cockburn about her love of cycling, her dislike of raisins, and her awful in-class artwork.
1. What do you teach and how long have you been at Camosun?
I’ve been teaching in the Camosun Biology department for three years.
2. What do you personally get out of teaching?
I find working with people to be very rewarding, especially when I get to spend the day discussing science and learning about biology. I find it very rewarding when even one student leaves a class thinking differently about the world around them.
3. What’s one thing you wish your students knew about you?
I ride my bike to work every day. I feel very fortunate to live in a place where I can ride all year long. A no-car day is a good day. I would love to see more people out on their bikes.
4. What’s one thing you wish they didn’t know about you?
Probably how bad I am at drawing. I use the whiteboard a lot when I teach, and I always have such awful drawings. I’m sorry!
5. What’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you as a teacher here?
Probably the day I got a continuing contract. I used to ride my bike by Camosun and think how amazing it would be to teach here. I love my job and the Camosun community. I feel very fortunate.
6. What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you as a teacher here?
Hmm, I’m not sure anything bad has really happened to me yet. Give it a few years…
7. What do you see in the future of post-secondary education?
I would love to see post-secondary education be accessible to everyone. I’m not sure what that would look like, but I believe everyone has a right to education.
8. What do you do to relax on the weekends?
A good weekend would consist of a good cup of coffee, a yoga class, a run, and a trip to the library.
9. What is your favourite meal?
I love food. I think, right now, local strawberries and ice cream. Does that count as a meal?
10. What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Inconsiderate people really get to me. And raisins in oatmeal cookies. Well, really, raisins in anything.