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20:20 PM

Europe/Amsterdam

Article by Richrd Guerrero

Del Mar College (DMC) Biology Professor Bob Long remembers the day he had a heart attack with great clarity. He recalls that while it was minor, he experienced chest pain. Beyond his own health concerns, Long says what he remembers most about that experience is the extended team who helped that day in the hospital.

Long quipped, “Who would think that having a heart attack would be your fondest memory? But it’s one of my fondest memories at Del Mar – that the people who took care of me were the people I trained.”

Bob Long_DMC Biology Professor

Long was announced as the 2024 recipient of the Dr. Aileen Creighton Award for Teaching Excellence during Fall 2024 Convocation, the annual all-campus meeting for faculty and staff that traditionally kicks off the new academic year. He is the 22nd recipient of the prized faculty award named after the late Dean Emeritus of Arts and Science and English Professor Dr. Aileen Creighton. Creighton’s lengthy tenure – 42 years in total beginning in 1939 – along with her dedication to students and higher education serve as the benchmark for faculty who aspire to receive the nominated award. 

A Corpus Christi native, Long graduated from Mary Carroll High School with Honors in 1988. He graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree from The University of Texas at San Antonio in 1992. He completed a Master of Science in Biology degree with an emphasis in Neurobiology two years later as well as worked toward a doctoral degree before a family tragedy forced him to return home. After a short stint in sales, he discovered the Surgical Technology program at Del Mar College and after graduation, Long worked as a surgical technician and as a first assistant to an orthopedic surgeon.

In 1999, Long joined the faculty at DMC as an instructor and began to make an impact on the students who signed up for the Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II classes. His unique teaching style proved immensely successful and made his classes among the most in-demand on campus.

In a support letter for Long’s Creighton Award nomination, one alumna recounts how he helped her overcome her initial self-doubts about her ability to pass the course.

“Mr. Long helped me see the beauty in challenges, and how amazing it feels when you finally overcome them,” she wrote. “More than just teaching me anatomy and physiology, he taught me how to believe in myself and to know that I could do anything I put my mind to.” 

A nursing alumnus noted in his support letter that Long’s sense of empathy coupled with his unique approach to teaching motivated him to rise to the occasion and overcome the obstacles before him.

“Professor Long employs innovative teaching methods in his classroom that cater to diverse learning styles. He integrates real-world applications into his lessons, ensuring that the material is understood and appreciated for its relevance to our future careers,” he wrote, adding: “His passion for the subject matter is contagious, making even the most challenging topics engaging and accessible.”

His colleagues can also attest to the impact Long has had on his students.

Science Advisor Cyrus Baker noted in his support letter that Long’s impact as a professor can be observed in the popularity of his classes.