The only title that matters is teacher

Professor focuses on the success of others instead of himself

Meghan McGillicuddy Special to the Roundup

Kat Wilson Roundup Reporter

It’s on the front page of the LA Times. It’s making news headlines all across the media.

Comet Ison will make its orbit around the sun and it will be viewable to those on Earth who have been tracking its progress since 2012.

Dr. Dale Fields, Ph.D. has posted regular updates about the comet’s progress on his Web page.

Fields is an assistant professor of astronomy.

He teaches Astronomy 1: Elementary Astronomy, and its lab, Astronomy 2.

He is also the discipline adviser for the Astronomy Department and the faculty advisor to the Astronomy Club.

Fields earned his bachelor’s degree in astronomy and physics from the University of Arizona in 2002, and his Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 2006, and he has been teaching at Pierce ever since.

Despite his handful of titles, Fields’ main focus is on the students.

He said he really wants his students to succeed in his class and in their college career.

In order to achieve this goal, Fields tailors his classes to meet the need of general education, rather than focusing on science majors. He also offers extensive office hours in the hope that students will take advantage of them.

“I would love to see more of my office hours filled with students,”

Fields said. “Then I know they are really trying.”

According to Fields, astronomy is not easy, but that doesn’t mean it’s not doable. If students take the time to prepare and the time to complete their work, it can be done.

“It’s a hard class,” Fields said.

“Because you are thinking about things in a different way, you are making connections with your brain rather than just learning concepts.”

Fields also has scheduled viewing nights for his students throughout the semester.

The times are posted on his faculty Web page. He also has planetarium shows.

He also finds time to be the Astronomy Club adviser.

Jordana Rataizer is a 23-year-old astrophysics major who is the club’s president and founder.

“I was shocked that there wasn’t a club on campus, so I started it up in the middle of last semester,” Rataizer said. “We meet Monday nights at 6:30 p.m. in the Astro Lab [92047].”

While together, they discussed astronomy tours and camping plans while playing Blokus, a strategy game.

While Rataizer sees Fields as a professor, her time as club president has caused her to see him in a different light.

“I feel like he’s on our level, we talk about nerdy stuff,” Ratraizer said. “It gives us hope.”

Irvin Rojas, 20, who is majoring in mechanical engineering, first met Fields when he took his astronomy class over a year ago. He was one of

Check out the stars by enrolling in Astronomy 1 with Dr. Fields in the spring.

Monday and Wednesday at 9:35 a.m. section: 0533

Monday and Wednesday at 11:10 a.m. section 0545

Wednesdays: 2:45 p.m. section 0705

7 p.m. section 3309

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2:45 p.m. section 8016 7 p.m. section 3310 Fields also teaches Astronomy 2 which can be taken for lab credit.

Tuesdays: 2:45 p.m. section 0714 the first members of the Astronomy Club when Rataizer created the club.

“He has become a friend,” Rojas said of his adviser. “He’s fun to talk to besides astronomy and is very knowledgeable.”

Club members are also looking forward to spending time outside the classroom as they plan an upcoming trip to Lake Cachuma in March.

Originally the plan was to go to Solvang, Calf.. to take advantage of the black sky, according to club vice president Hillary Manly-Sullivan.

“It’s dark and ridiculously beautiful,” Manly-Sullivan said. “I’ve seriously never seen more stars in my life.”

However, the trip has been rescheduled in order to allow for more fundraising.