Teacher Feature: Steven Nicklas
"The sooner you know what you want to do and are able to plan to get there, the easier it is to do it."
Stocking, Emily
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: Features
Compass: What do you teach here at Gainesville State College?
Nicklas: I teach all sorts of things. I teach a fossil prep class at my house on weekends, which is a lot of fun because we always have like a pot-luck meal and everybody brings food, they come an hour early so we can eat. And then intro to anthropology and intro to archaeology and that's it this semester.
Compass: How long have you been teaching here?
Nicklas: This is my first year full-time, but my sixth year here I think.
Compass: What brought you to GSC?
Nicklas: The fact that it was a two-year school, that it was designed to provide access for students to the university system. I like working with students that might not know what they want to do or maybe don't have the motivation to get through another school. You get immediate gratification, because you get students who immediately fall by the wayside or immediately excel.
Compass: What made you decide to go into the field of archaeology?
Nicklas: My parents took me around the world when I was four and standing in the Coliseum I told my father that I was going to be an archaeologist one day.
Compass: What do you like most about teaching?
Nicklas: Personal relationships with the students; it's like one giant, extended family.
Compass: What do you like least about teaching?
Nicklas: Failing people.
Compass: Where are you from?
Nicklas: I grew up in the mountains of central Pennsylvania.
Compass: Where did you go to school?
Nicklas: My Ph.D. is from University of London Institute of Archaeology. Master's is from Drew University and undergraduate is from Lycoming College in central Pennsylvania.
Compass: What was the first job you ever had?
Nicklas: The very first job I ever had, I went out in a boat and caught crabs in Ocean City Maryland and sold them door-to-door.
Compass: Do you have any kids?
Nicklas: James and Brandy. James is 11 and Brandy is 5 ½.
Compass: Tell me about your pets.
Nicklas: I teach all sorts of things. I teach a fossil prep class at my house on weekends, which is a lot of fun because we always have like a pot-luck meal and everybody brings food, they come an hour early so we can eat. And then intro to anthropology and intro to archaeology and that's it this semester.
Compass: How long have you been teaching here?
Nicklas: This is my first year full-time, but my sixth year here I think.
Compass: What brought you to GSC?
Nicklas: The fact that it was a two-year school, that it was designed to provide access for students to the university system. I like working with students that might not know what they want to do or maybe don't have the motivation to get through another school. You get immediate gratification, because you get students who immediately fall by the wayside or immediately excel.
Compass: What made you decide to go into the field of archaeology?
Nicklas: My parents took me around the world when I was four and standing in the Coliseum I told my father that I was going to be an archaeologist one day.
Compass: What do you like most about teaching?
Nicklas: Personal relationships with the students; it's like one giant, extended family.
Compass: What do you like least about teaching?
Nicklas: Failing people.
Compass: Where are you from?
Nicklas: I grew up in the mountains of central Pennsylvania.
Compass: Where did you go to school?
Nicklas: My Ph.D. is from University of London Institute of Archaeology. Master's is from Drew University and undergraduate is from Lycoming College in central Pennsylvania.
Compass: What was the first job you ever had?
Nicklas: The very first job I ever had, I went out in a boat and caught crabs in Ocean City Maryland and sold them door-to-door.
Compass: Do you have any kids?
Nicklas: James and Brandy. James is 11 and Brandy is 5 ½.
Compass: Tell me about your pets.
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