Community

Marvin Frohock, MA, Axia College of University of Phoenix

I am delighted that students now have the option to obtain their education around their life and obligations. I am also grateful that I am able to balance my love of teaching with my life and business obligations. It is truly a win-win! Yet, faculty members and students alike need to remember at all times that they are involved with rigorous degree programs.

As a faculty member, my goal is not only to provide a quality education but also to assist students with their confidence and self-esteem. Students have to believe in themselves to be successful. At a recent graduation ceremony, a student sought me out with her family and thanked me. It really crystallized the powerful impact that faculty members can have on real people beyond the virtual classroom!

Courtney Anderson, JD, MBA, Axia College of University of Phoenix

As a faculty member, my goal is to educate students so they can be their best. I want to help them achieve their career goals. What particularly motivates me is when students email or thank me personally for going the extra mile to help them. I am honored when students ask me to write a letter on their behalf for acceptance into law school or a doctoral program. I am pleased that I can provide students with a positive experience and I’m proud to be part of University of Phoenix’s excellent reputation.

Patrick Cote, College of Health and Human Services

My goal is to inspire and touch the lives of my students and help them become master teachers. I want to instill a passion for teaching by being a vibrant role model who is child centered, caring and nurturing. I believe University of Phoenix students deserve the very richest learning experience possible. I set high expectations for myself and my students. I give them my best and hold them accountable for learning. My philosophy is to always remember that my students may be teaching my granddaughter one day and I want each and every one of them to be the best and most effective teacher they can be.

As a faculty member, it is especially rewarding to observe my students while they're student teaching and see them put the knowledge and skills they gained into practice. Attending graduation is also very rewarding. Watching students walk across the stage, seeing how proud their parents and friends are, being invited to graduation parties, hearing from them when they get that job they dreamed of, and having them call with questions about teaching after they've been teaching awhile - these are the things that inspire me to continue teaching.

Myrtle Combrink, College of Education

Two years after I graduated from University of Phoenix with my master's in counseling, I had the opportunity to join the University's faculty. I was already a credentialed teacher and was looking for a way to teach adults and help them along the same track I had been on. My goal as a faculty member is to be part of a program which prepares students to join me in the professional world with good communication skills, enthusiasm and a deep-seated desire to fulfill their personal goals. I communicate real-world experiences to my students so they come to the profession with their eyes open and maintain their commitment to the world of human services. My instruction is aimed at inspiring their professional confidence.

Hearing about students' successes after graduation is especially gratifying. I love graduation, for the pure joy of accomplishment and pride. But it's what I see students do afterward that makes me glad I was part of the process that enabled them to reach their goals.

Catherine Butler, MFT, College of Health and Human Services

Each position I've held during my career has built upon my previous position, culminating in broad expertise in community and public health. My goal as a faculty member at University of Phoenix is to integrate my wide variety of professional experiences into my facilitation of courses. This has proven to be very valuable in teaching community health nursing, health policy, health care infrastructure and other courses. My experiences can help demonstrate to students how theory is applied to practice.

Recently, one of my students requested a letter of recommendation after she graduated and was pursuing additional education opportunities. She is bilingual with English as a second language. She told me I had helped her so much with her writing skills that she gained confidence in her command of the language. Student successes such as this make me appreciate the opportunity to teach at University of Phoenix even more.

Judith Candelaria, MSN, RN, College of Health and Human Services

I have a passion for teaching and learning and believe I can help others learn. The collaborative environment at University of Phoenix keeps me in touch with others who share my interests in Web technologies.

I want to make a positive impact on a student's learning of the course topics and objectives. I also want to teach broader lessons that apply outside the classroom, so my students will have the tools to be successful in their lives and careers. I try very hard to meet the students' expectations in my courses because I challenge them to meet mine. I believe learning is reciprocal.

Janelle Elias, College of Information Systems and Technology