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Prospective Students
Outstanding Faculty
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“Students are remarkably consistent in their comments about his classes, noting year after year, that he is always well prepared, always energetic, always clear, always kind,” says Kathy Walsh, COCC's vice president for instruction. “Students also appreciate his humor and the fun he brings to his classes.”
The middle of five children raised in Roseburg, Naffziger never considered attending college while growing up. At age 26 he enrolled at Lane Community College. There he found he enjoyed his work-study job as a math tutor and developed a cult following of regular tutees. When his calculus instructor suggested he consider teaching, it made sense. Naffziger decided to include his signature wit—a survival technique developed during childhood—in his teaching style while observing his student teaching supervisor effectively incorporate humor into the classroom.
College algebra steadfastly remains his favorite course to teach because—as a requirement—it brings together such a diverse mix of students. “I also like the content—it's never boring—even after 18 years. It's constantly a challenge because I'm always looking for ways to do it better. That's the beauty of it.” He kids his students that since he has been teaching the material for 18 years, they should know it by now.
A member of the COCC faculty since 1995, Naffziger was lauded for his distinctive and thoughtful professionalism and commitment to students and teaching when he was selected for COCC's Faculty Achievement Award in 2005.
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