Dr. Gamboa has seen that play out firsthand in his own life and it has paid off. He was recently recognized with the Millie Ablin Excellence in Teaching Award at California State University, Bakersfield. The Millie Ablin Excellence in Teaching Award honors faculty for contributions made to their students, academic disciplines and campus communities.
“Teaching is a big part of my life. It’s something that gives me tremendous value and I miss it and appreciate it more than ever,” said Dr. Gamboa.
“I am very glad to see Steve receive this award. In addition to his direct work with students, Steve enhances the quality of teaching across our department by being a committed mentor to me and several of my colleagues. This award provides much deserved recognition for all the ways Steve promotes excellence in teaching at CSUB,” said associate professor of philosophy, Dr. Nate Olson, who nominated Dr. Gamboa for the award.
Dr. Gamboa said that an award like this comes at a good time as he is confronted with the challenge of adapting his teaching in the new online environment.
“It inspires me to do even more to make sure that happens,” he added about the shift in his teaching role.
“If the students aren’t engaging with you, aren’t engaging with each other, aren’t engaging with the material, it would never work. If it does, it sparks that wonder and joy,” Dr. Gamboa said.
While it was a bit of a “long and winding road” to find his path of interest, Dr. Gamboa found himself enjoying his studies in college – the reading, thinking and discussions – he was participating in.
Although, he was pursuing an academic career path, he didn’t necessarily set out to be a professor.
Spending most of his 20’s in Europe, he found a real sense of how wonderful it can be to find a subject worth studying. Dr. Gamboa did a graduate program in Spain, then went on to do his master’s in history, which was his discipline at the time.
After he realized philosophy was the main subject he connected with, he decided to pursue another master’s in philosophy in Ireland.
Dr. Gamboa said, it “seemed that the things I was really finding joy from and really kept leading me to further questions and work in that area.”
After getting married in Ireland and starting a family, he came back to the United States, where much of his time was spent developing his teaching chops and pursuing his doctorate in Southern California.
On the market for a job, after getting his doctoral degree, Dr. Gamboa landed an interview with CSUB and the rest was history. He’s been in the philosophy department since 2005.
“(I) got my dream job, that’s for sure,” Dr. Gamboa said of his time in Bakersfield. “It’s really been ideal for me.”
Dr. Gamboa described the students at CSUB, who understand and connect with philosophy, as “passionate, wonderfully curious and open-minded.”
“I hope that during their time at CSUB they also have an opportunity – to explore new ideas, think new questions, to look at how we live individually and socially and question some of the underlying assumptions that don’t always get called into question,” said Dr. Gamboa.
“Steve is a dynamic teacher who inspires his students to share his own passion for ideas and reasoned discussion. The conversations that start in his classroom pour into our department’s hallway and continue across campus. He is also an extremely devoted teacher whose mentorship has helped his students attain success in a wide variety of fields,” said Dr. Olson.
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