Eight new faculty at Clovis Community College

Clovis Community College brought on eight new faculty members this fall.

CCC Executive Vice President Robin Kuykendall said the new instructors are

• Emergency services instructor Samantha Griego

• Nursing instructor Reyna Falcon

• Nursing long-term care instructor Valerie Berwald

• Health and physical education instructor Edward Kraus

• Theater instructor and cultural arts coordinator Jessica Holt

• Psychology instructor Jennie Piepkorn

• Nursing instructors Kyli Thatcher and Hannah Thomas.

Here are excerpts from interviews with The News:

Griego lives in Fort Sumner.

"I have a bachelor of arts and applied sciences with a concentration in emergency management from Eastern New Mexico University," Griego wrote in an email.

Griego has worked for volunteer and paid EMS ground services.

"I have seven years of experience as a paramedic in the emergency room and 14 years of experience as a critical care flight paramedic," Griego wrote.

She came to work at CCC because of what she sees as the college's EMS program supporting local services, whether they are paid services or volunteer.

"Without EMS many of our smaller communities would be without local emergency care," Griego wrote.

As for what Griego hopes students take away from her classes, she hopes it's the importance of service to our communities.

"Our EMS program is growing at CCC. I'm excited to be a part of offering more students not only the opportunity to begin a career in EMS but also allowing seasoned EMTs the opportunity to advance in their field," Griego wrote.

Falcon is a CCC nursing program graduate.

"Sharing an optimistic environment for nursing students was what attracted me to a teaching career at this institution," Falcon said.

Falcon hopes students will take away from her classes "compassionate care and love for human kind."

Falcon hopes the faculty job is a learning experience for her too.

"I am excited to learn a new career and to learn with my students. My goal is to learn and adopt effective teaching techniques," Falcon said.

Berwald was living the retired life when things changed.

"I was happily retired when I got a text from a former nursing student who wrote, 'We are in need of nursing instructors this fall. Would you be interested in teaching, again?'" Berwald wrote in an email.

Berwald wrote her response "was an immediate '"Yes.'"

Berwald taught nursing at CCC from 1997 to 2012.

Berwald's new assignment is to teach long-term care in clinicals.

"My focus with my students is to demonstrate and model caring in every environment in which I find myself, even the classroom," Berwald wrote.

Berwald hopes "to influence the students with the seriousness of becoming a member of the nursing profession."

"I want them to see that caring matters, not only in the classroom, but also in life in general."

Kraus comes to Clovis from Clovis, Calif., just outside of Fresno.

"I received my B.S. in kinesiology- P.E. emphasis and my M.A. in sports psychology from Fresno State University," Kraus wrote in an email.

Kraus coached swimming for more than 15 years and was a mental skills coach at the high school and junior college level.

"I have collaborated with the Army ROTC to help future officers build on their mental skills," Kraus wrote.

Kraus noted the attraction to CCC was the community outreach.

"Personally, and professionally, I have always helped communities in some capacity. I want to continue with community outreach here in Clovis," Kraus wrote.

"One academic goal I have, I will be starting a swimming class that is designed to improve swimming technique."

Kraus outlined what he hopes is the takeaway from his instruction.

"The most important thing is everything they do in life on a day-to-day basis, will all come back to living a healthy lifestyle," Kraus wrote.

The people of CCC made an impression on Kraus.

"I have met the most helpful people. I needed help with settling in and there was no shortage of help. I really appreciate all those that are helping me along the way," Kraus wrote.

Holt comes to CCC from the Phoenix suburb of Glendale.

"I went to a great community college program there, and then got my (bachelor of fine arts degree) in acting from Utah State University. I also have a master of theater studies degree in production and design," Holt wrote in an email.

Holt also earned a master's degree in directing at Baylor University.

"I taught high school theater for six years, worked at a community theater, and have experience as a director, actor, stage manager, and designer," Holt wrote.

Holt was attracted to CCC because of her own "wonderful experience with community colleges."

"I think they are a vital part of a healthy community and offer incredible opportunities," Holt wrote.

Besides the subject matter, Holt hopes "my students walk away with increased confidence in themselves and their abilities, improved speaking skills, an increased capacity for collaboration and communication, greater empathy for one another, and the ability to look at things from varied perspectives."

Piepkorn was born and raised in Clovis.

"I raised my family here. I graduated from Clovis High School, received my undergraduate degree from Eastern New Mexico University in secondary education," Piepkorn wrote in an email.

Piepkorn has a master's degree from Lamar University in professional school counseling.

"I was an adjunct psychology instructor for CCC for five years before accepting the full-time position," Piepkorn wrote.

Piepkorn described her instruction method.

"I set high learning expectations for my students and then through preparation, grace, and humor, we attempt to meet those expectations together," she wrote.

Thomas graduated with her bachelor of science in nursing from West Texas A&M University and went directly into the pediatric intensive care unit as a new graduate nurse at Covenant Children's Hospital.

"I had great nursing instructors and preceptors that really sparked my interest in education. I want students or new graduate nurses to feel as welcomed as I did when starting a new career in nursing," Thomas stated in an email.

Thomas will be teaching nursing skills to semester one students and pediatrics to semester four students within the nursing program.

"A true impact that I hope to make is creating a classroom that is welcoming and inclusive so that the students feel comfortable asking questions and learning in a positive environment," Thomas wrote.

Thatcher was born and raised in Clovis.

"I began my college career at CCC in the nursing program. I furthered my education at ENMU to obtain my bachelor of science in nursing," Thatcher wrote in an email.

Thatcher wrote she was attracted to CCC "because they are driven to provide high quality education to students.

"I hope my students are able to gain critical thinking skills, problem solving techniques, and confidence in their abilities."

Thatcher added she is "very excited to be working alongside of faculty that are driven and have love of education."