YC instructor Cassi Gibson Adds Industry Savvy to CTEC’s Electronics Program
By Michael Grady
“The last thing I ever thought I’d be doing is teaching.”
From her office on Yavapai College’s (YC) CTEC Campus, Cassi Gibson still sounds a little surprised. A Bagdad native, Cassi graduated from YC’s Electronics program in 2011, seeking a career that could take her far and wide.
After finding success playing multiple roles in a variety of industries, now she is back, helping her students do the same.
Her first job, post-graduation, became an eight-year gig, supervising 16 solar energy sites across the country. When the solar company was bought out, “I went to work on wind turbines.” Hired as a quality control manager at Barnhart Engineers and Constructors, “I also did electrical troubleshooting because the blade rotation system doesn’t always like to work,” she laughed. She embraced the challenge, teamwork, and adventure of a job that had her criss-crossing the country, setting up projects. “I would have gotten tired of it eventually, but I enjoyed it.”
In 2020, Cassi returned to Bagdad to be closer to family. Before long, she got a call from Rick Peters, her former YC Electronics instructor. He wanted her back in the classroom – this time, at the front of it. But Cassi wasn’t sure how her workplace persona would blend with academia. “I was mostly nervous about interacting with personality types I wasn’t used to.”
Turns out, it was just what they needed. New Program Director Liz Peters took Electronics over when Rick, Liz’s Dad, retired. Together, Liz and Cassi maintained Rick’s high standards while adding the insights of two women with a track record of professional success.
“In class, Rick was very hands-off. You really had to think.” In that spirit, Peters and Cassi often create lab projects with built-in glitches. “Maybe the formula is off. Maybe the value for your signal generator isn’t the right value. That’s to foster curiosity so students use their brains to figure things out.”
The students aren’t always thrilled. “Oh, they get mad,” Cassi said. “But if you spoon-feed them, you do them no favors. This can be a dangerous industry. If you don’t make it hard, they’re not going to be successful. Or they might hurt themselves or someone else. It’s important to keep it difficult.”
Their capstone course is Troubleshooting, where students apply the breadth of the technical skills they’ve learned. “If you can troubleshoot there, you can troubleshoot just about anything in the industry,” Cassi said. It’s tough, but students graduate as diagnostic thinkers, with a deep understanding of electronics, and bright futures ahead.
“Then they’re not mad at us.” She laughed. “I actually do enjoy that.”
Learn more about Yavapai College’s programs at yc.edu.