Faculty Friday: Dr. Brenda Gustin

This week's Faculty Friday features Dr. Brenda Gustin, Professor of Biology at SUNY Corning Community College. Dr. Gustin has been teaching for over 25 years, and in that time, she has achieved many accomplishments. 

Dr. Gustin loves teaching, providing opportunities for creativity and innovation in the classroom, and inspiring her students to reach their full potential. She enjoys mentoring her students and helping them develop skills to achieve success in their chosen fields. 

This week's feature will give you an insight into the life of Brenda Gustin, from her academic career to her hobbies outside of teaching, such as creating glass mosaics and raising guide dogs. Get to know Brenda and learn about her incredible work with students, animals, and art!

Q: When did you begin working at SUNY CCC, and why/how did you end up here?
A: I started working at CCC in the Fall of 1998 after completing a postdoctoral research position at the University of Florida. While researching for my post-doctoral position, I took a job teaching Anatomy and Physiology at night. I found myself exhausted after a day of lab research but energized after teaching. It was at that point I decided to pursue a teaching career. Having family in upstate NY made CCC an attractive opportunity.

Q: What classes do you teach at SUNY CCC?
A: I primarily teach Microbiology and Human Biology, but, depending on need, I have taught Anatomy and Physiology and introductory biology courses too.

Q: What's your favorite part about being a faculty member at SUNY CCC?
A: I love being in charge of my classroom and curriculum. Teaching provides unlimited opportunities for creativity, from what material to deliver, how it is delivered, and how to assess student learning. It is essential that students learn the material presented in class. But, it is possibly more important that they like the course and are inspired to think about how this material impacts their life outside of class.

Q: What's been the best part of your professional career?
A: Right now is the best part of my professional career. I don't have quite the same amount of energy I had when I started 25 years ago, so I have to work smarter. I have taught enough to know where students will struggle and what I can do to help. Over the years, I have realized that it is more important for students to memorize less and be provided with opportunities to think about things more. I am a very confident teacher and still have the interest and energy to help with things at the college outside of my teaching duties. Ever since day one at CCC, I felt like part of a team doing an important job, and I still feel that way every day.

Q: What's one thing most people don't know about you?
A: I love making stained glass mosaics. Looking through a microscope, I often wonder how to make that image into a mosaic. The mosaic (pictured below) is from a slide of the dorsal root ganglion (clusters of nerve cells) associated with the spinal cord. There is so much beauty in the microscopic world!

Q: What do you like to do during your free time/time outside of the classroom?
A: I have always been a "dog person," but I took it up a level this year by becoming a puppy raiser for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. I have been raising "Jeanette" since she was a young puppy. She has been able to go to work with me and is very popular among students and employees. She should be going back to Guided Eyes for the Blind when she is about 15 months old to finish her guide dog training. It has been a great experience training her and spending time with her at CCC.