Daniel Waterman has been an instructor at San Joaquin Valley College since July 2020. Before then, he worked in higher education administration, discovering along the way that what he truly wanted to do was to teach.
It was a pleasure to hear from Daniel about his career path, teaching experience, and how deeply rewarding it is to see students learn, graduate, and find meaningful careers.
Where did you work before becoming an instructor at SJVC?
I worked as Director of Enrollment and VP/Campus Director at University of Phoenix, as Campus President and VP of Operations for Heald College, and as an Associate Dean at San Diego State.
How did you know you wanted to teach? Were you inspired by anyone or anything in particular?
During my career in higher education administration, I was always interested in what happened in the classroom and the one-on-one interaction with students, but based on my responsibilities, I wasn’t able to teach.
One of the most satisfying parts of my various roles was the training sessions and mentoring I conducted with staff; I was motivated to see people gain knowledge and confidence and then grow in their professional careers. I knew that once I moved out of an administrative role, I would gravitate toward teaching as it could provide the same type of environment.
One of my main inspirations was participating in graduation ceremonies. I had the privilege of being the MC for over 30 graduation events and there is nothing more satisfying than handing a graduate their diploma while their family and friends celebrate their success. I knew many of the students and appreciated the challenges they had to overcome, which made it even more special.
What do you like most about teaching?
At SJVC, I primarily teach Gen Ed courses, and the subjects are not areas that most students have studied before, such as Introduction to Sociology, General Psychology, and Ethics; and also Business courses like Principles of Marketing, Customer Service, and Business Communication.
It’s really fun to see students gain a basic understanding of Sociology or Psychology and then figure out how that knowledge can have a positive impact on their career as well as personal life.
What do you find most challenging as a teacher?
I get frustrated when students do not put forth the effort it takes to pass a course (and I know they have the “smarts” to do it). I totally appreciate the challenges that students face trying to juggle school, work, and life. However, I know from experience that an education will provide much opportunity and personal growth, so when they don’t take advantage of the chance to grow it is disappointing.
Do you have any advice for students just beginning their program at SJVC, or for students who might be interested in teaching some day?
I will borrow a quote from Stephen Covey (educator and author of The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People) and tell them, “Begin with the end in mind.” Having a dream and goal of what graduation will bring is really important, and if students can continually connect with that goal, taking the process one course at a time, they will graduate and live their dream.
