Del Mar College

CORPUS CHRISTI (News Release) - 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.

“From the EMT who walked through my door to the girl who wheeled me into the operating room and to the emergency room to several people working in the emergency room to the young lady named Anna who did my echocardiogram to the surgical tech and the nurse who were in the OR when they put my stent in, along with the nurses who cared for me in post-op, they were all my former students,” Long told colleagues during Del Mar College’s Fall 2024 Convocation, his voice breaking up as he spoke. in Richardson Performance Hall on Monday. 

Regaining his composure, 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.”

Long was announced as the 2024 recipient of the Dr. Aileen Creighton Award for Teaching Excellence during 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.

“Bob’s reputation for his enthusiasm for teaching and his commitment to his student’s welfare and learning is manifested by his classes filling up within a few days of registration opening,” Baker wrote.

Surgical Technology Program Director Elda Garza says Long can differentiate education in a way where his students feel challenged yet supported.

“His humble nature provides an environment of student engagement and motivation while delivering high-quality instruction,” Garza wrote. “His courses fill to maximum capacity on the first day of open enrollment; I do not know of any other instructor who is so sought after by students.”

Long estimates he’s had over 15,000 students go through his courses, which include Microbiology, Cell and Molecular Biology and Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology, among others. He earned tenure when he was promoted to Assistant Professor of Biology in 2005; three years later, he was promoted to Associate Professor of Biology. In 2016, he was promoted to his current position – Professor of Biology. Long has been named the Student Government Association Teacher of the Year for the Heritage Campus six times beginning in 2008 and most recently in 2019. 

Long notes that he is able to draw from both his science background as well as his experience in the Surgical Technology program to provide a unique approach to teaching.

“I have an intimate knowledge of what it takes on an academic, emotional and psychological level to help my students succeed in my class, future classes and in the professional careers,” Long wrote in his nomination letter.

At convocation, Long’s emotions were readily apparent during his address.

“For many of our students, Del Mar is the first opportunity to achieve upward mobility. But for some of our students, it’s their last best hope,” Long told the audience. “And that drives me more than anything – knowing that our students are dependent upon us to come through and provide a quality education so that they can change their family’s history and trajectory.”