Faculty Spotlight Archives

Name: Dr. Tim Thompson

Titles: Associate Professor and Assistant Coordinator, Speech and Mass Communication

Department: Fine, Performing and Communication Arts

Division: Liberal Arts

Years of service at CCBC: 10

My teaching philosophy: Every person already has the seed of understanding in them that can propel them to excellence in any endeavor to which they devote sufficient time and energy. Each student simply needs to figure out how to get out of the way of his or her own learning process and let that process do its work naturally.

I usually teach Speech Communication (Human Communication Studies) and Mass Communication (the business, creative, and organizational dynamics of mediated communication).

My greatest strength as a professor is my ability to tune into the hearts of others through applied empathic listening.

CCBC’s greatest weakness: I deeply dislike the grading process. I wish I didn’t have to administer grades, because much of what students learn and need to learn from their educational experiences is either poorly reflected or not reflected at all by some letter on a transcript.

My most rewarding experience at CCBC has been being told in various ways by various students and colleagues that I’ve touched their lives in positive ways, and that they’ve benefited from applying some of the understandings that I’ve shared with them.

CCBC students are in most cases a real joy for me to experience, both in teaching and in learning from them.

My other professional experiences: I’m a former corporate publications editor and sales promotion specialist, as well as a former media relations specialist for nonprofit organizations. I’m also a former affiliate relations and marketing manager for a well-known national cable TV satellite service and event logistics planner. I’ve done research consulting for a municipal government’s cable TV enabling body and organizational training and development consulting for a few nonprofit groups. I even spent four months as a stockbroker after leaving the cable TV business. Currently, I’m also an amateur/volunteer motivational speaker.

Outside CCBC, I enjoy the ancient Chinese martial art of tai chi chuan. Tai chi chuan is a moving meditation, and my greatest passion in life is exploring the depths of the human mind. I love practicing, performing, and teaching tai chi with and for anyone who shows interest. I also love spending quality time with my loved ones and watching my two sons play NCAA Division I college soccer together at Towson University.