Switching Fields

Matthew Dempsey sits back at his desk like Captain Kirk of the Star Trek Enterprise, with space-age gear around him. However, North Lake’s science lab is not the Enterprise, and Dempsey is not Kirk. Dempsey is an English graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles, with postgraduate studies in science, and he is also a musician.

Dempsey came to Texas in 1999 and started attending classes at NLC. He was preparing for med school. While choosing what courses to take, he decided to challenge himself by taking the class that scared him the most – biology. At this time, Mike Huddleston came into Dempsey’s life. Little did Dempsey know this introduction would have more impact on his life than he could have ever imagined.

In the spring 2000, Huddleston approached Dempsey about being the first academic coach for the science department. Dempsey said he accepted the position proudly. It was an opportunity for him to do the two things he loved most — teaching and science. As Dempsey put it, “... it put a bug in my head.”

That same year, Huddleston also asked Dempsey to drive for the Hawaiian field studies course offered in the summer. Dempsey had planned to go to Mexico to build homes for the poor, but after Huddleston made him an offer he couldn’t refuse, he headed to Hawaii. “It was a life-changing experience,” said Dempsey.

Although he had a hard time following a lot of the terminology used, he learned a lot about the environment and walked away a new man. He told Huddleston at the end of the trip, “If you ever need me again, let me know.”

In April 2001, Dempsey was preparing to take his exam to enter medical school. He started volunteering at a local hospital. At this time, he really started to waver about being a doctor. He witnessed someone die, and he carried that emotional experience with him for days. He said he had a hard time separating himself from his work. Huddleston, aware of all of this, came to Dempsey once again. With Dean Bob Agnew, he offered him the job as lab coordinator of the first science lab. “This is my baby,” Dempsey said of the science lab.

Dempsey was instrumental in setting up the new lab, which opened in spring 2005. Students can go into the lab and work with models they may not have spent enough time on in class. They can choose from a wide variety of lessons on CD-ROM, and they can get one-on-one help with several tutors. In fact, Dempsey said his favorite part about the science lab is the tutors.

Each tutor is hand-picked by the science teachers. They bring Dempsey their brightest and hardest-working students. Tutors take their jobs seriously and, like Dempsey, they love their jobs, he said.

If he could tell students anything about the science lab, Dempsey said he would say, “Come in and come often.” In fact, a survey showed students who did just that had greater success in their classes and better grades.

For more on the science lab or the Hawaii Field Studies course, call Dempsey at 972-273-3279.