Lone Star College-CyFair’s adjunct instructors may teach online or on campus part time, but they connect, motivate, empower and inspire students full time and now four are being honored as this year’s Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award winners.
Making a positive difference in LSC-CyFair students’ lives through their respective fields of Spanish, kinesiology, English and business, are award winners Roiann Baskin, David Boettcher, David Glaesemann and Huan Pham, all of whom are career educators.
“I enjoy working with students, building connections and motivating them to learn a language and culture,” said Baskin, who’s won this honor for the second time in her 13 years of teaching at LSC-CyFair. “Spanish is a beautiful language. I’ve had the opportunity to travel and live in many different countries … I like sharing with my students how beneficial language learning can be in their personal and professional careers.”
Baskin began her career in education as a high school teacher in Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, including time teaching Spanish Dual Credit at LSC-CyFair. Now she primarily teaches in an online environment where she supports student success with creativity, active engagement and organization.
With a passion for education and human movement, Boettcher prioritizes empathy and compassion for his students, finds joy in building rapport with them through mentorship and hopes to provide tips and guidance for their optional lifelong health and wellness. With approachability, intention, open discussion and interactive presentations, he employs a hands-on approach and even uses his students’ own experiences to aid them in learning topics.
“My goal is to create a dynamic and inclusive educational experience that supports the growth of each student,” said Boettcher, who is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Exercise Physiology. “There is something special about seeing the lightbulb moment in students’ faces when there is topic that resonates with them - and that further drives my passion in teaching.”
Teaching is a time-honored tradition and deeply rooted in family history for both Glaesemann and Pham from their grandparents down to siblings. Their passion for teaching is “in the blood” and “almost genetic.”
Two decades ago Glaesemann said he found a home in LSC-CyFair’s English Department. His education career also includes 10 years teaching middle and high school English and ESL and the last 10 years in school district administration. His teaching style helps students feel confident having mastered a new skill.
“I use a demonstrator approach in my classes that gives the teacher and students an equal voice and participation in the learning process. Most people in education know it as the ‘I do, we do, you do’ learning cycle,” he said. “Our students are hungry to learn, ready to be inspired and excited to grow in knowledge. They only need an instructor who patiently guides them along the way.”
Joining the LSC-CyFair Business Department in 2022, Pham draws on his varied academic and professional experiences, including as adjunct professor at two other institutions and his own pursuit of a Doctorate in Management. Believing education is most effective when directly applicable to real-world scenarios, he incorporates current events to bridge the gap between theory and practice for his students.
“My choice to specialize in business is driven by my fascination with its dynamic nature and practical applications,” he said. “I strive to impart knowledge that is not only academically sound, but also practically relevant to my students’ future careers and life.”
For information on college programs, go to LoneStar.edu/cyfair. It’s not too late to register for spring classes with multiple Next Start options available. For information, go to LoneStar.edu/regcyfair or LoneStar.edu/nextstartcyfair