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 Marketing instructor Marina Jaffey about international travel, stomach butterflies, and the wonderful feeling of witnessing a student’s success.
1. What do you teach and how long have you been at Camosun?
I teach in the Marketing department in the School of Business. I’ve developed and taught a variety of marketing, marketing communications, and sales management courses in our diploma, BBA, and post-degree diploma programs. Being able to work with students and create meaningful learning opportunities is so rewarding. I feel very grateful to have a career in post-secondary education, and have been with Camosun College for 25 years. I’ve also worked in strategic planning and trade marketing management with a global consumer packaged goods firm and have co-authored a principles of marketing book, Think Marketing, which is currently being used by students across Canada.
2. What do you personally get out of teaching?
Having the opportunity to learn and share that learning with others is what really motivates me. I see myself as a life-long learner, and I learn so much from my students. We have people from all over the world in our classrooms. It’s so inspiring to see our students’ curiosity, thoughtful contributions, willingness to share, and perseverance—especially during the very difficult final four weeks of this past semester, when we were required to self-isolate and move all learning online.
3. What’s one thing you wish your students knew about you?
I love to travel and learn about different cultures and places. Last year a few of my colleagues and I traveled to Tanzania with Camosun International. We met with faculty and students at Arusha Technical College. It was an incredible learning experience to see firsthand the challenges and successes they experience in education and in their lives. I’m currently working on a certificate in intercultural studies online at UBC.
4. What is one thing you wish they didn’t know about you?
I always feel nervous at the start of every semester… But I guess this helps me to understand how students may feel when they are asked to give a presentation. The best way, I find, to deal with “those little butterflies” is to be really well prepared. I tend to spend a lot of time thinking about my lessons and planning activities and projects that I hope are engaging and meaningful for students. It’s so important for students to be able to apply their learning and develop the skills they will need to be successful in their careers.
5. What’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you as a teacher here?
This past February, I met with two employers who have our Marketing co-op students working for them. Both managers told me they posted the co-op positions with universities and colleges in the lower mainland as well as on Vancouver Island. They chose to hire Camosun students because our applicants stood out in terms of the applied knowledge and skills they bring to the job. It’s so affirming to know Camosun students are doing so well. Both of these students are graduating this spring and have been asked to stay on with their respective employers.
6. What’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to you as a teacher here?
We ask our students to work in teams a lot. So, seeing a team fall apart despite trying different strategies to address the issues is disheartening.
7. What do you see in the future of post-secondary education?
This is a really interesting question given the current COVID-19 pandemic. In a matter of days, post-secondary institutions and faculty were required to switch abruptly and completely to online learning. As a result of this experience, I expect we will see educators continue to incorporate learning technologies to enhance the classroom experience, even after social distancing has ended. I also believe that sustainability will become an even more important component of student learning and will be a theme woven across programs and throughout curriculum. Finally, I see post-secondary institutions working even more closely with community and industry as a way to ensure students are developing the applied skills and knowledge required to be successful today and in the world of the future.
8. What do you do to relax on the weekends?
I enjoy distance walking. A group of friends and I meet up for longs walks on Saturday mornings. We’ve done a number of 10k races together and are planning to complete some half marathons. My family and I also enjoy hiking and have hiked the West Coast Trail and Juan da Fuca Trail. I’d really like to complete the Camino de Santiago in Spain. I’ve read a few books about that pilgrimage route and it sounds fascinating.
9. What’s your favourite meal?
Breakfast is definitely my favourite meal of the day… Fruit, yogurt, toast/almond butter, and tea. Yumm!
10. What is your biggest pet peeve?
Not having enough time in the day to do everything I’d like to do.