David Ayala
Working in the Pierce College bookstore warehouse since 2007, David Ayala unpacks the shipment of boxes he receives and separates the materials into different sections for the sales people to pick up and put on display.
“I used to be a equipment manager and locker room attendant for West L.A. College,” Ayala says.
Ayala is a father of two boys...
The upkeep of the Pierce College aquatic center
Many students on campus may not know this but there are classes that start before 7 a.m.
If you think that’s way too early to be on a school campus consider this. The swimming pool on campus opens at 5:30 a.m. Deborah Hefter, 28, has been the swimming pool supervisor at Pierce College for past five years and those early...
From the punk show to the classroom
Pierce College English Professor standing in his office in Woodland Hills Calif., holding some memorabilia from his time as lead singer and guitarist for punk band Still Life. Photo by Cameron Kern
Blue dyed hair, skin-tight jeans, ear piercings, skull tattoos and fast-paced strumming of guitar strings- these are just some...
More than just an anthropology professor
Anthropology professor Brian Pierson stands with his posse of skeletons in the Anthropology building at Pierce College. Photo by: David Paz
His office is a small cubicle, simple, organized and grey space. Three things stand out, two frames that display a Neanderthal and the Menino Lepedo child, and him.
He wears an eggplant purple shirt with beaded necklaces to celebrate the...
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...
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...
Dig in, let your voice be heard with Loy
As professor Robert Loy’s students trickle into his small group communication class, they are greeted with upbeat and colorful music playing from his laptop speaker.
The eclectic playlist includes music from diverse genres which he uses in his regular karaoke performances.
As a new full-time faculty member, Loy is the assistant director and advisor of the Pierce College Communications...
A Hero’s Journey
Story and photos by Ava Weintraub
Brain surgery couldn’t keep this dedicated teacher away
The diagnosis was dire. The doctors said he had about a week to live and to get his affairs in order.
It was a type of brain tumor called a “schwannoma,” a benign tumor that grows around the sheath of the cranial nerves. But this was a big...
The Long Way Dao-wn the Road
(Left to Right) Long Dao, mens tennis head coach, talks to Christian Ponce and Daniel Vinterfeld in the tennis courts at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif on Feb. 27, 2019. Photo by Chris Torres.
Beside the rusty metal fences surrounding the outdoor tennis courts stood a hooded figure dressed in a bright...
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...