For Professor Gary Collis, the worlds of business and law are not mutually exclusive -- in fact, they are intricately connected in a way that sparked his love for learning early on in his educational journey.

Collis began his collegiate journey at the University of Illinois, where he graduated with a Bachelor's in Business Administration with an emphasis in Organizational Management. One semester along the way, he enrolled in a Business Law class, and it was then that he realized his interest in law was most definitely tied to his interest in business. The realization led him back to California, where he enrolled in Pepperdine's Law School. 

For two decades, Collis was a full-time practicing attorney, but he did teach a few paralegal courses here at COC. Despite the long drive down from Downtown L.A., he found a particular type of enjoyment from being a professor, even if he wasn't able to dedicate as much time to teaching as he'd like to at that point in his career.

He currently teaches Business Law, which is a universal business course that is a part of every business program in the country. 

When asked about his decision to leave his full-time career as an attorney, Collis shared that he craved a way to make a more direct, positive effect on society -- for him, that meant leaving the office and entering the classroom.

“There’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing that you’ve sparked a student’s interest in learning more about your subject,” he shares. “It’s especially rewarding when I get those few students who start thinking about going to law school one day once they’re in my class.”

While the law is admittedly a confrontational field to work in, Collis is reassured in his decision to join the world of teaching -- “In the classroom, people are learning rather than fighting,” he comments.

What others might not expect to hear is that Collis has more unique pursuits lined up for himself in terms of his life outside of the classroom. When he's not at a restaurant with friends or spending hours in his living room watching Netflix, he's setting up his travel schedule for the year. 

It may come as a surprise to hear that Collis harbors a desire to become an expert in general contracting and construction, which is admittedly a far cry from the more “mild-mannered” setting of the classroom, but a rewarding and exciting pursuit nonetheless.

Collis is a man of many interests and talents, and his love for the law has translated well into his role as a professor here at the college.

"The law is interesting, and it doesn't have to be scary," he often reminds his students. "It's worth taking the time to delve into more deeply -- trust me."