Ascend Instructor of the Month: Gustavo Pina

Instructor of the Month May 2023, Gus Pina

Gus is a Professor in the department of Computer Information Technology at Doña Ana Community College, with 25 years helping students master the ins-and-outs of:

  • Introduction to Information Technology
  • Windows Server
  • Windows Desktop Administration 
  • Network Security 
  • Introduction to Networking (Cisco I/II)

Gus uses his experience to share with others, develop an understanding of opportunities and instill an importance of continued education.

  • Favorite Ascend Course to teach:  Windows Server 2019
  • Favorite thing about Ascend: Access to the live labs1.
  • How did you get started in teaching: I was a network administrator, and someone asked if I knew Access, at the time I was using R-Base to manage an inventory of computer equipment.  She asked if I would like to teach a Saturday morning class at the community college, I said yes and the rest is history. 
  • How did you learn of Ascend: Through a colleague that was using PracticeLabs 
  • What do your students call you: Mr. P
  • First tech device you ever purchased: Commadore Vic20
  • Your greatest accomplishment with technology: I was listed in “Who’s Who as an Access Database Creator 2000”
  • Last book read: Re-read ‘The 4 Noble Truths’
  • Favorite vacation destination: San Francisco (Daughter lives there) ☺
  • Favorite movie: Daughter and I are Rocky buffs!!! 1-6.  I snuck into theater in 1976 to see Rocky 1
  • Who is your tech hero: Must be early Bill Gates, crazy to start a company in a garage.
  • Favorite hobby: I love power tools; “DeWalt” tools for me.  I like to build stuff.
  • When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up: TV Repair Man like my uncle, he was my father figure.
  • Craziest thing you ever did: Really … 😉 I hiked in the Grand Canyon twice, 5-days each trip
  • Pets: 6 dogs.  Mika, Marshall, Milo, RC, Odie, Arya and Drago (from Rocky IV)
  • Dream dinner partner: Miyamoto Musashi, greatest samurai ever, a real ronin
  • School mascot: El Paso Highschool Tigers
  • If you could be a superhero, which one would you be: Punisher.
  • Song you would have playing when you enter the classroom: 24K Gold- Bruno Mars

Gus is a Professor in the department of Computer Information Technology at Doña Ana Community College, with 25 years helping students master the ins-and-outs of:

  • Introduction to Information Technology
  • Windows Server
  • Windows Desktop Administration 
  • Network Security 
  • Introduction to Networking (Cisco I/II)

Gus uses his experience to share with others, develop an understanding of opportunities and instill an importance of continued education.

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