Images: Vassar College
A Publication of the ALANA Center
Spotlight with Jay R. Carreon, Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry
By Gabrielle Phillip ‘09
Born in the Phillipines and raised in San Francisco, CA, Jay Carreon received his Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry at the University of Southern California, Santa Cruz. After taking a few years off, working for the pharmaceutical industry, he earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry at Boston College. His thesis was entitled ‘Synthesis of Fluorescent peptide conjugates and applications as DNA-binding and cellular probes.
What inspired you to become a teacher?
I remember how difficult it is to be a student in college, which is why I enjoy working with students. For me, it is fulfilling to teach students a subject that I love, especially when I remember some of the excellent teachers and professors that I have had in the past. It is a wonderful feeling to see a student suddenly understand an idea that he or she was struggling to grasp. Knowing that I am helping others makes my day.
What brought you to Vassar?
After completing my Ph.D., I must have applied to about fifty different teaching positions around the country. My original goal was to do work at a community college, where the student body is very diverse—people come from different backgrounds, are all ages, and differ in their levels of education. In fact, I wasn’t too familiar with liberal arts colleges. However, after Vassar College hired me and I began to teach, I realized that this is the best case scenario. The classes are small, the students are very intelligent and polite. I am very happy that it worked out this way.
What do you think are the benefits of a diverse student body?
I believe that a diverse student body enriches the students’ college experience. Diversity allows students to learn more about one another, and by extension, themselves. Also, diversity molds a student into a more well-rounded person who is better prepared to survive in the world.
What do you hope to bring to the lives of the students here at Vassar?
I want every student of mine to believe that he or she can understand the material no matter how difficult it may be. This requires patience, availability, and enthusiasm on my part. I strongly believe in office hours and review sessions. I especially like to help students who are having difficulty understanding a certain concept, since I haven’t forgotten the days when I was in their shoes.
Has there been any challenges in your life that have affected the way in which you teach your students?
Truthfully, I was not one of those super-genius students that immediately understood everything and automatically aced every exam. I remember feeling intimidated by those types of students. However, their presence did not deter me from achieving my ultimate goal, but rather it inspired me to work very hard to grasp every concept necessary to succeed. As a professor, I make myself extra available to those students who may need extra help.
What do you think is important to keep in mind as a person of color in the world today?
I think that people of color should not feel discouraged about entering a homogeneous arena. Instead, they should use this as encouragement to diversify traditionally white-dominated areas.
What do you enjoy most about working with students? your job?
I really enjoy the interactions I have with young people who want to learn about the subject I love so much: chemistry. When students ask me tough questions, it often challenges my expertise and allows me to learn something new. For me, science awakens my childhood curiosity.
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