If there鈥檚 a conventional path to becoming a college business instructor, Adrian Arismendi did not follow it. They don鈥檛 typically start with a BA in Marine Science, spend several years as a Naval officer, followed by a career in pharmaceuticals before landing in a spot that seems to be a perfect fit two decades after graduating from college.
鈥淲hen I stepped off the plane in Cody for the first time, I was awe-struck,鈥� Adrian said, recalling their first visit to the area in 2013. 鈥淭hose views of the mountains were breathtaking.鈥�
After growing up in Chicago and living in San Diego, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, Adrian was eventually able to call Wyoming home after relocating in 2017 to become a project manager for Cody Labs. The company shut down two years later, but wanting to remain in the area, Adrian decided to put an MBA earned a few years earlier to new use as an adjunct at 蓝莓视频.
Since 2019, Adrian has transitioned from an adjunct instructor teaching Personal Finance at Cody Center to a fulltime, tenure-track member of the faculty in Powell. As part of the NWC Business program, they teach classes covering such topics as accounting, ethics, communication, marketing, and management 鈥� all the elements that make up the world of business. Since some of those courses are part of NWC鈥檚 new BAS program too, Adrian鈥檚 students are also wide-ranging, from traditional college-aged undergrads seeking their first associate degree, to adult learners with families and jobs who are pursuing their bachelor鈥檚 in Business Management.
Having worked in a variety of sectors, including the military, private businesses, publicly traded companies, and a non-profit research company, Adrian is able to bring a unique perspective to the classroom. It鈥檚 one that students at other colleges are unlikely to get since few professors have the wide-ranging first-hand knowledge Adrian brings.
鈥淔inding a way to make those things relevant to Wyoming students and being able to tie it together with what they鈥檝e seen and experienced here is one of the challenges I enjoy. The small classes also give you more time to talk about their own individual experiences and give more personal attention.鈥�
When not teaching or involved in other college activities, Adrian enjoys outdoor adventures such as hiking, camping, and biking.