A Stand-up Educator
Backlit by morning light, a figure sits at a desk in a modest office situated by a winding row of spanish-style bungalows. The muted grey and cream colors of the office walls contrast with the beaming smile hidden behind a black Dell computer monitor.
At 6 a.m. political science professor Denise Robb arrives each day to Pierce’s campus with...
A Nurses Life for Me
The maze of doors, desks and filing cabinets filled to the brim with paperwork that make up the Student Health Center, creates a cramped environment for the average person to wade through.
However, Director of the Student Health Center Beth Benne, who stands above the clutter, finds the space easy to navigate to her office. Once at her desk, she...
His infectious love for theater
A man stands with a group of students, informing them safety precautions about using a table saw in the workshop. His salt and pepper hair reflects some of the light overhead. His off-white facial hair scatter across his face, down to the underside of his chin as he speaks about what the table saw can do when it comes to making interesting...
Simon says
There is a moment at the start of Greg Simon’s physical anthropology class when a spark goes off, as he finishes reminding students of deadlines and begins his lecture.
As the term “natural selection” leaves Simon’s lips, his eyes widen and the corners at his mouth turn up in excitement, while he begins to discuss his passion.
The Pierce College...
From the Tower of Babel
Professor Christine Ersig-Marcus has been teaching for 20 years, first in Switzerland, then in the United States. Ersig-Marcus was born in Switzerland and learned how to speak Swiss-German from birth.
“I make a point of that because Swiss-German can only really be understood by Swiss-German speakers,” Ersig-Marcus said. “For a Swiss person this is a very strong identity marker because...
Communications professor helps students overcome fears
Being 10,000 feet in the air, to the sight of a hairy, eight legged tarantula to speaking in front of a crowd of people, these ideas define some of peoples greatest fears.
Helping students overcome the fear of public speaking, Communications Professor Bill Buchynski, has worked on LACCD campuses for 12 years, teaching for 20.
Wearing a plaid shirt, khaki pants...
An Out of this Galaxy Professor
Dale Fields holds a 3D globe at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., Photo by Natalie Miranda
A science professor comes gliding into campus on his bicycle every day, unless it is a rainy day. On this day, he is wearing a white T-shirt with the words, Earth first, before the other planets....
Witchcraft adapts to modern times
Witchcraft. It has been around for centuries, yet it’s still one of the least understood fringe cultures.
Shrouded by myth and mystery, witchcraft has been subject of speculation since the lifestyle was first created.
The truth is modern day witchcraft is a lot more practical than one might think.
To dive deeper into the differences between witchcraft and works of fiction, Pierce...
Finding culture through Anthropology
Erin Hayes holds a Russian nesting doll, surrounded by other cultural items in her office on Mar. 16, 2019 at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif.
The saying is to always take the road less traveled. This mantra is often found on coffee cups and bumper stickers with good intentions that are rarely...
Q&A with Foo Fighters’ Taylor Hawkins
Photos & Interview by Lynn Levitt
The late 1990s was a special time for drummer Taylor Hawkins. He had landed a gig with Canadian singer Alanis Morissette. And soon after, Dave Grohl, the former drummer of Nirvana and founder of the Foo Fighters, asked Hawkins if he knew anyone who could fill his recently vacant drummer spot in his new...