Ruth Ann Mikels interview by Tempest Day, 2013

M.011.05 Oral History: Dr. Ruth Ann Mikels interviewed by: Tempest Day

0:00 Introduction 0:33 Background 2:25 Career that she never thought about 2:50 When decided to teach 3:05 Graduate school - UW 4:05 Graduation and family – place bound 4:25 Why not try teaching 4:45 Fell in love with teaching college 5:15 Strategy to go from adjunct to full time faculty 6:00 What was happening with the college in the 80’s 6:15 No equipment budget 7:00 Innovative faculty doing a lot with so little 7:35 Interest in the development of TCC nature area (urban open space) 10:05 First things done as tenured faculty 10:30 Formal arrangement to help restore the urban open space 11:45 Relationships established at TCC – lifelong community 13:00 Friendships that extend into the community 14:00 Keeping in touch with ex-students / alumni 15:55 How has TCC changed over the years 16:40 Talks about the old buildings and the development of the surrounding area 17:45 Improvements in design 18:20 Have changing policies changed your teaching 19:30 More outside pressure to prove what is being done 20:05 Instructors now spend more time talking to groups outside the college 21:00 How has advancing technology changed your teaching – love hate relationship 23:00 Personal issue with disposability of electronic devices 25:20 TCC Recycling center 28:57 Hopes for the future of TCC 29:50 TCC at the forefront of curriculum 30:15 TCC a Microcosm of Tacoma