Alumni Spotlight - Jason Ripper

To hear Jason Ripper tell it, "EvCC accidentally chose me." It was 2001, and Jason had earned his master's degree in history six years earlier. He was busy with his own house painting business when an opportunity to fill in for an EvCC English instructor became available and he took it. He is now a tenured instructor, having taught history courses for the last 18 years. For the last six years, he has also found time to work part-time in Whatcom County as a Reserve Sheriff's Deputy. "My time at EvCC helped my career hopes to blossom," he says. "I teach classes I love and get to help students with academic advising, which is personal, purposeful, and meaningful. This has been an excellent place to work and think." Jason's advice for current students: "Work hard, study more than you intended to, use your phone less than you want, and have lots of fun."

What is your current occupation/career?

My current career is Instructor of History. I have tenure and have taught at the college for 18 years. I also work part-time in Whatcom County as a Reserve Sheriff's Deputy. I've done that for six years.

How did you choose EvCC?

I would say that Everett Community College accidentally chose me. It was 2001, and I had earned my master's degree in history six years earlier. However, I had opened a house painting business and was doing that when a job opportunity opened here to teach English Composition courses. The circumstances were unusual: two instructors had just died and the college needed someone at the last minute to fill in for two sections of English 97. My father taught here and let the dean know that I was available. I was, I guess, their only option. But when it came to me getting the tenure-track position in history, there was a rigorous hiring process. By that point, I had long before transitioned to teaching history courses. So I had a track record and then did well enough in the selection process.To be honest, however, I was the number two candidate. But the woman who received the offer turned it down.

Do you think your time at EvCC helped you pursue your current career?

My time here at EvCC has helped my career hopes to blossom. I have classes to teach that I love (Western Civilization and World History). I have written two books that were published a decade ago. I get to help students with academic advising, which is personal and purposeful, and meaningful to me. This has been an excellent place to work and to think.

What did you do after you left/graduated EvCC?

I never attended EvCC, though I did get an AA at Yakima Valley Community College in 1991, after which I moved to Bellingham to go to Western Washingon University.

What words of advice would you give to current EvCC students?

To current students, I would say work hard, study more than you intended to, use your phone less than you want to, and also have lots of fun. Be happy. Be happy while you're a student, and think about choices you make now that can help you lead your own definition of a good life later.