Professor Nick Marsing never planned on being a college Professor, but when a position opened up here at Snow College, he took it.
Many Snow College students have taken classes from Professor Marsing and as student Kaela Brough said, “He always keeps us on our toes, makes us laugh, and helps us see we are capable of more than we think.”
So who is Marsing, how did he get here, and why does he stay? Professor Marsing is nothing short of a box full of surprises. One of his main hobbies includes Chainsaws. He stated, “I go up in the mountains and cut down dead trees. The wood keeps us nice and cozy all winter!” Marsing has not one, not two, but three chainsaws he routinely enjoys using.
Marsing also has a wife and three children; one is out of the house and married, one is 17, and one is 13. Regarding his family, he said, “I love them to death but they are also the people I want to strangle most sometimes.” In his classes, Marsing often relates his material to stories of his family, and his love for them.
Marsing obtained all of his degrees from Utah State University. He has both a bachelor's and a master's in psychology and sociology. He went on to obtain a doctorate in education.
Before Marsing started teaching at Snow College, he taught classes like speech and debate, theater, and photography at different schools as well as doing some counseling work. He said, “I didn't even know being a college teacher was an option.”
So what classes does Professor Marsing teach here at Snow? Social problems, Intro to psychology, social psychology, research methods, and behavioral analysis are just a few.
Marsing loves the courses he teaches but said, “Don't tell too many people, but social psychology is my favorite.” This is a class where students can learn why people act the way they do. “You can’t unsee what you learn in that class.”
When asked about the most important qualities of a teacher, Marsing said, “I try to make the class a place where students can learn how to learn.” He continued with, “The ability to connect to students is one of the most important things a teacher can do.”
When asked a follow-up question about what is important for students to do, Marsing said, “Caring. We are seeing an epidemic of apathy. Finding a way to care is essential.”
Professor Marsing encourages everyone to take a class from him next semester, and maybe look into the hobby of chain-sawing.