On a hot Saturday afternoon, Professor Jeremy Patrich is miles away from his living room couch and TV. He's up in the mountains and forests, accompanied by about 100 students who are eager to participate in the journey towards enjoying and appreciating nature for all it is -- a journey proudly led by Patrich. If you ever get the chance to ask him about his class field trips, he's more than happy to tell you how much he prefers the eastern Sierra to the usual Netflix binge session that you'd typically associate with a free Saturday. 

Patrich is a professor within the Geography program of the Earth and Space Sciences department here at COC. He started at COC as a music major before one professor in the geography department made him realize that there was something about the earth that called to him far more than all the music and melodies in the world.

Patrich transferred to CSUN (with 120 units!), where he received his Bachelor's in Geography, and gradually went on to also acquire his Bachelor's in Geology from the University of Florida. Along the way, he realized that his talents lay not only within teaching his students but expanding their understanding of the world around them at large.

"The best part of my discipline is not in a class, but rather being able to take all the classroom info from the course and apply it on our field trips," he said. "We hike through mountains, rivers, lakes. We go out and explore nature."

His field trips are meaningful not only as a learning experience but as opportunities to connect with nature and one another in ways that the typical classroom might not allow. Patrich loves all of the courses he teaches, from Physical Geography to Weather and Climate.

“Every single one of my classes is my favorite for a different reason,” he says. “I couldn’t ask for anything better.”

This year marks Patrich's second year as a full-time faculty member here at COC. Still, in such a short amount of time, he's developed a full arsenal of instructional abilities and life lessons that he passes onto his students. He makes it a priority to instill in his students the value of hard work and sacrifice -- both of which are necessary to make it in a world where opportunities are everything for those who work for them.

Patrich also takes great pride in the fact that he's the first professor in his department to be 100% OER, meaning his students never have to worry about accessing textbooks for his classes. 

When he's not on campus or leading one of his famed field trips, Patrich is at home, working on cars or gardening -- a testament to his endless love for the outside world and all of its wonders. One main niche hobby is his love of Disney collecting -- every room in his house has a theme based on the Disneyland lands (Adventureland, Frontierland, and so on). Artwork as a whole is an interest of his, but Disney artwork, in particular, has always caught his attention. 

He has plans to travel to Greenland and experience the Northern Lights himself someday, but in the meantime, he’s happy to split his time between Dodger games, good times with good friends, and overall enjoying all the world has to offer him, both indoors and out.

"I hope that I can teach my students to analyze the world a little differently and see things in a new way after having me as their instructor," Patrich shares. "Taking my students to new and important places is so inspiring, and I'm lucky that I get to do what I do."