Dallas College Brookhaven Campus celebrates its 45 year anniversary this year. The youngest college of then Dallas County Community College District, Brookhaven opened in the fall of 1978. One professor who has been with BHC since its founding continues to teach students and does not plan to stop anytime soon. He is the last of the original faculty left.
Glenn Kasparian, biology professor at BHC, said he remembered what his first semester was like when BHC first opened. “Lecture halls weren’t ready,” Kasparian said. “We had to go and give lectures in the gymnasium.”
Kasparian had to teach alongside a math class with only a curtain dividing the space. “It was very difficult,” he said.
Kasparian said once construction was complete, things became easier. Lectures, labs and lab manuals were all created from scratch. “We finally got to use all of our knowledge,” Kasparian said.
In his 45 years at BHC, Kasparian has seen it all, from the expansion of online classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic to the restructuring of the seven DCCCD colleges into Dallas College.
Kasparian said he was open to the challenge of COVID-19.
Because students also faced this difficult transition, he did not want their education to be compromised.
In a period of two weeks, Kasparian taught four biology courses, recorded lesson videos and found online programs to replace in-person labs. Kasparian said it was a fast transition, but the faculty did whatever they needed to do. “They stepped up,” he said.
Another significant transition occurred at the same time. DCCCD became Dallas College.
Kasparian said the transition was difficult for him. The culture of BHC was different. The college’s governance is more centralized and as a result, the sense of community found at BHC was diminished.
“The feeling of community left, but we tried very hard to bring that back,” he said. Through faculty meetings and small gatherings such as picnics and barbecues the feeling of community was gradually restored. Veteran faculty actively worked to help new faculty, staff feel included and welcomed.
Kasparian said he fondly reminisces about the international student population of the college. “One of the reasons I like being here is because it is such an international campus,” he said. “Much more so than if you went anyplace else.” BHC’s diverse students from all over the world have taught Kasparian a wide range of different cultures, languages and dances.
Kasparian said he does not plan on retiring anytime soon. He loves teaching. “I like the environment,” he said. “I like the freedom of coming in and teaching my classes the way I like. I like interacting with my students. I love interacting with my colleagues.”
Kasparian said health would be the ultimate factor that could lead to his retirement. He enjoys an active lifestyle that involves jogging on the Brookhaven trail, and tai chi, which he has taught at BHC in the past.
Kasparian said he is optimistic for the 2024 spring semester, particularly for the revival of his tai chi course. “I put it back into the system for the spring,” he said. He hopes students will sign up for the course.
Kasparian relishes the knowledge he is able to provide to his students. “It’s the most gratifying thing I can do,” he said.
