Jessica Rickards

Q: What is your favorite thing about working at Delaware Tech?

"One of my favorite things about working at Delaware Tech is the relationships that are formed with colleagues and students. From meeting students for the first time, seeing them enter the respiratory care program, watching them make connections in the classroom, and excelling clinically is the most rewarding part of their journey. Additionally, the faculty and staff at Delaware Tech really make the College exceptional. I have learned so much from so many individuals at the College. From classroom strategies to teaching methods, to administrative aspects, to heartwarming life lessons. I am forever grateful for these friendships since they have helped to mold me into the educator (and person) I am today."

Q: Why was it important for you to work at Delaware Tech?

"The college plays such a crucial role in providing Delawareans with quality education and connecting them with career opportunities. Being an alumna of Delaware Tech, I remember the experiences I encountered as a student and all the people that helped mold me into the therapist that I am today. I wanted to be a part of someone else's journey and to share my passion for the field of respiratory care with others."

Q: Describe your first day at Delaware Tech. What was that experience like?

"It was definitely a surreal experience. I had been working as a respiratory therapist for a couple of years when I was offered a position to teach for the respiratory care technology department. I remember vividly doubting my ability to "actually teach" the very subject that I loved learning about and practicing. After sharing my apprehensions with a mentor at the time, she said to me "If you are unsure of something, suggest to them that you would look it up together. The students will appreciate the honesty and you will grow more as an instructor for it." To this day, I still rely on her many words of wisdom."

Q: What changes have you seen in yourself since you started working here?

"Since starting at Delaware Tech, I have made a lot of growth both professionally and personally. I have become more confident in my abilities and have stepped out of my comfort zone more than I ever have."

Q: Do you have a favorite memory from your time at Delaware Tech thus far?

"One of my favorite memories was the second commencement after I was hired. Even as an adjunct I would attend each graduation, take pictures with the graduates, and celebrate their accomplishments on the most important day of their college experience. It was not until the first class graduated that it really hit me of the impact that we can make as educators. Seeing students at initial advisement, to each semester in class and clinical rotations, and then walking across the stage to receive a diploma and becoming alumni was an overwhelmingly amazing experience to witness."

Q: What is something people may not know about you?

"In high school, I majored in collision repair and worked in a body shop until I graduated. I repainted, welded, and finished the bodywork on my truck (at the time), as well as earned a scholarship to go to college for collision repair."