Interview with new ICC professor, Matthew Briggs
Professor, what is a quick background of you?
I have taken a long winding road to get where I am at. I started at ICC after I graduated from high school, originally as a law enforcement major, and then transitioned to Architecture for which I eventually received my Associates. At that time, I took a break from school and joined the working world, working. After an 8-year departure from school, I decided there was something missing in my life and went back, working toward my Bachelor of Science in Communication at Northern Illinois University, and ultimately getting it in December of 08. Having graduated at the very beginning of the recession, jobs were few and far between, so ultimately, I decided to continue my education and worked towards my master’s from August of 09-May of 11. This is where I became a teacher’s aide, and I got the teaching bug. I stayed on at NIU after graduation as an adjunct instructor along with my regular job as a commercial producer for the local CBS affiliate until relocating back to the Peoria area in 2017. I started teaching at ICC in August of 2018
Can you briefly describe designing the class?
Having worked in video production as a commercial producer, I really try to bring as many real-world opportunities and experiences into the classroom as I can. After having experienced work in the field, I see a need for the students to build some good portfolio material to show to potential employers.
Would you describe your plans for the class?
With just coming in this semester, and a very short turnaround, my goal was to work off how the class was previously run, and organized as much as possible, but also try and put a little of my own spin on things as much as I can. Also, being new to the community college teaching environment, I wanted to gauge my class as best I can to see how the class was planning on using the knowledge they got. Was it mainly a group that was going to be using this knowledge in the work force right away? Or were they taking this knowledge and transferring to a 4-year university? From this knowledge, I can adapt the class as best I can to suit the needs of my students.
Finally, what is the best part of being at ICC?
What I think is coolest about being back at ICC is how my college career has come full circle. When I first started at ICC in 1996, I would have never imagined I would be back here teaching 20 years later. There is a certain newness to the whole experience, yet still some nostalgia from when I was a student. I still remember working on studio projects at the Architecture building with Tom McMorrow (who just retired last semester), and then driving down the hill to Avanti’s for lunch break. So, it is interesting to see how so much has changed, but there is still so much that is the same.
By David Prim