TSTC welcomes new faculty to campus

(RED OAK, Texas) – Texas State Technical College has welcomed two new instructors to its Red Oak campus.

Douglas McCuen is teaching in the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Technology program, and Jacob Usery is in the Computer Networking and Systems Administration program. Both started teaching on Aug. 26, the first day of TSTC’s fall semester.

“I think anytime new professionals with different backgrounds come on campus, there is always a collaboration between the other faculty and new faculty members and the staff,” said Marcus Balch, provost of TSTC’s North Texas campus. “I think everyone has a different set of backgrounds and experiences that make us stronger and better in what we do.”

McCuen has more than 30 years of professional experience in the HVAC field in New Mexico and Texas. He said he wanted to pursue teaching because it is a new challenge. Before coming to TSTC, he previously owned a business in San Antonio.

“I have noticed how the students are really interested in the life experiences I have obtained through being able to tell them what I ran across and have seen,” McCuen said.

In 1984, McCuen received an associate degree in Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration from the Technical Vocational Institute (now Central New Mexico Community College) in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Usery worked in the private sector and for a school district in Johnson County before coming to TSTC. He said watching what teachers were doing with their students inspired him to move into the classroom.

“I was drawn to it, and I wanted to help people learn what I have picked up over the years,” Usery said.

Usery said he had some nerves on his first day of teaching, but said he is quickly getting comfortable working with students who are a variety of ages.

“I love what I do now,” he said. “It’s just exciting to me. I want to be part of making people better.”

Usery grew up in Red Oak less than two miles from TSTC’s campus. He is a 1998 graduate of Red Oak High School and a 2010 graduate of Western Governors University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in information technology.

For more information on Texas State Technical College, go to tstc.edu.