Professor

“In the five years I’ve been here, I haven’t seen enough students of color in my classes. A few out of 40 students is just not enough, so I’m working to change that.”

“You really want to know how I feel about being here? It just feels great!” says Pierre Goueth with genuine delight. “It means achievement to me: I’ve gone through all the steps, and now I’ve arrived. I’m on top!” And with that single phrase—‘on top’—Pierre refers not only to his own success, but also to a whole slew of positive developments he’s seen at SMC over the past five years; first as a part-time instructor, and now as a full-time one.

“Our Science Complex is fantastic, and you won’t find the like of it at many universities. All these computers are marvelous,” he says. “You can check e-mail when you’re on break, send your presentation from your desk to the classroom, and—five minutes later—open it up on the screen and teach it. Wonderful!” Science is Pierre’s muse, one he’s followed determinedly around the world. “Chemistry is calling me everywhere!” he says with a hearty laugh. “I’m from Cameroon, in Africa, but I had to go to France to finish up my studies in chemistry. And finally, because of opportunity, I’m here.” And to create opportunity for others, Pierre has become a bit of a crusader in promoting his field.

“I’m in a program that’s reaching out to minority students at Crenshaw High School,” he says. “We definitely want more of these students in the sciences, but I tell them every discipline has the same requirement: hard work. ‘All of you can achieve what you desire’—that’s what I plan on telling them when I talk with them directly. And believe me,” he adds, “I will.”

SMC Chemistry Professor Pierre Goueth began full-time at SMC in Fall ’99. Welcome!

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