Faculty Profile
Mark Blaisdell - Economics Instructor
Mark Blaisdell - Economics Instructor
Mark Blaisdell has
been teaching Economics at Green River
Community College for the past 15 years.
He received an AA degree from GRCC,
BA from the University of Washington,
and an MBA from Pacific Lutheran University.
Mark is the Lead Economics Instructor
and Division Chairperson.
Mark Blaisdell is a favorite faculty
member among many students.
According to
Edwin Sanjaya GRCC's March/April
Student of the Month, "Mark Blaisdell
is a very special instructor. Mark really
wants to know about how things work
in the students home country, and what's
going on in their life. He builds a
very strong relationship with his students.
He often goes to the library in the
afternoon to talk to his students, wants
to know what the students do, etc. I
am also working as an Economics tutor
for him since summer quarter 2010. He
often comes to the tutoring center in
the library when I work to see how the
tutoring is going."
He is also actively involved in helping
pave the way for students to transfer
into top four-year business schools.
Back in 2007 he accompanied IP staff
to Indiana University Bloomington to
learn more about the transfer process
there. Read
Green River Staff Go the Extra Mile
for their Students.
Last summer he taught Economics in
Indonesia at the EF school. While there
he took time to touch base with his
former GRCC students. Many of
Mark's former students have transferred
into top business schools including:
London School of Economics,
University of Illinois, Bloomington;
University of Washington, University
of Texas, and more.
One of our Outstanding Alumni,
Christina Wong recalls, "I
attended Mark Blaisdell’s ECON101
class back in the year 2000. His
classes were fun and interesting. I
remember we came across an example
explaining an economics theory in
the textbook and parsnip was the
subject. No one in the class knew
what parsnip was and what it looked
like. He decided to ask the class to
bring him one parsnip and a one page
writing assignment on that
particular theory for extra credit.
This was one unique way to learn and
earn extra credits. Who would have
thought that an economics class will
lead to a trip to a supermarket? So,
whenever I see parsnips in the
supermarket, it reminds me of Mark’s
class."
GRCC has recognized Mark's diligence
by presenting him the 2009 Distinguished
Faculty Award. This award recognizes
faculty members who by their teaching
and professional, campus and/or community
involvement have demonstrated distinguished
service to education.
When asked what Mark loves most
about teaching at GRCC, he said, "I
do have to say that GRCC really is a
place that I’ve enjoyed for most of
my life. First as a student here,
and now as a faculty
member/chair/mentor. I most enjoy
helping students identify and
achieve their goals. This is true
whether they be international or
domestic students. But what
impresses me most about
international students is the
distance many of them have to go,
and the extra efforts they have to
make along the way, as they pursue
their dreams."
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