us John D. Nesbitt has taught English and Spanish courses at EWC since the fall of 1981, instructing thousands of students, and occasionally multiple generations of the same family. His motivation to become a teacher is rooted in his belief that "education has been such a powerful force for improving people's lives:' John is also an award-winning author. He notes, "Writing, like education, is a pure form of democracy:'

When he is not teaching, John practices his craft: "I have published numerous book reviews, magazine articles, academic articles, short stories, poems, essays, and novels:' He also enjoys outdoor activities, such as "gardening, hiking, camping, hunting, and working with my horses and my donkey [Pierre]:'

John describes a few sources of inspiration: "hunting deer by myself on the Wyoming landscape, observing the vastness of the Wyoming plains at any hour of the day or night, seeing Saratoga and Encampment from on top of the big ridge which I am still able to climb. Also: western songs, heartbreak songs, Mexican songs. A hawk in the sky, elk in the timber, a mountain stream:'

John's upbringing in rural California contained challenge and adventure. His mother died when he was young, and he spent time doing migrant field work with his father and brothers. The best advice John has received is from his father: ''A job worth doing is worth doing well:' He traveled to Mexico as a youth, enjoying learning the language and observing life in another country. Returning many times, he eventually met and married his wife, Rocio.

John's value of education is evident. He received his B.A. from UCLA and his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from UC Davis. "I am proud of having become educated with breadth and depth, in languages, literature, and writing;' John says. "I believe in learning for the sake of learning. I believe that if a person learns things in good faith, he or she will find the value or application as time goes bY:'

When asked which three people he would invite to dinner, he responded, "First on my list would be Charles Dickens, the great British novelist. I would be interested in knowing more about this person who overcame a difficult upbringing and was able to write stories that have held importance for readers of many ages and in many stations in life. If Dickens came to dinner, I would have wine, chicken, lamb, and a round loaf of bread.

"Second, in time, would be the late Merle Haggard, who also rose from a troubled upbringing, was able to overcome both socio-economic and legal difficulties, and was able to share his vision of life through dedication to his art. If Merle Haggard came to dinner, I would have beer, red meat, potatoes, and apple pie.

"Third in time but perhaps first in a cosmic hierarchy would be Alice Munro, the great Canadian short story writer. Her stories about everyday women are really about all of us, and the craft and style of her stories serve as an inspiration for fiction writers everywhere. If Alice Munro came to dinner, I would ask my wife to fix either enchiladas or a seafood dinner, as our honored guest should prefer:'

The Faculty Senate would like to thank John for his years of service not only to EWC but to the many students and emerging writers he has mentored during his tenure.