Kevin Mitchell Found a Home

            When Kevin Mitchell started college, he had no plans to become a college professor. In fact, he planned to become an engineer. He was inspired to change course when a college professor who believed in him told him he could teach communications.  Once Mitchell started studying communication, he found he liked those classes more than his math classes. “I thought, I’ve found a home,” Mitchell remembered, “Communications students talk to each other, math students don’t.” 

            Mitchell received his undergraduate degree in Communication with an emphasis in rhetoric from Northern Arizona University. From there he went on to complete a Master’s in Communication from Northern Illinois University. He did some doctoral work at Arizona State University, but never completed the degree. He concedes that the pay is lower without a doctorate when teaching at the college level, but that doesn’t seem to bother him.

While completing his graduate work and since that time, Mitchell has worked in about seven different institutions of higher education. In total Mitchell has about 25 years’ experience, starting as a graduate assistant in 1997. He is currently at the College of Southern of Nevada, a community college that serves the greater Las Vegas area. Before arriving at CSN, Mitchell worked at Northern Arizona University, Northern Illinois University, Arizona State University, Kishwaukee Community College, Eastern New Mexico University, and University Nevada Las Vegas. He says if you want to teach in higher education, you can’t “be married to a piece of geography.” You must be willing to move to wherever the opportunities arise. Mitchell enjoys working at the community college level where he says an emphasis in research is not necessary.


In 2019 Mitchell went to Carson City to be recognized by Governor Steve Sisolak in the Nevada State of the State address for his work with prison inmates. In that speech Governor Sisolak recognized Mitchell for his efforts teaching prisoners in the CSN prison education program and High Desert State Prison systems. Mitchell says people in correction facilities are interested in learning better communication skills. A couple of the specific skills inmates want to learn more about are what to say at their parole hearing and how to talk to their families when they finish their prison sentence and return home. 

Thus far Kevin Mitchell has had a successful and fulfilling career. He is enjoying his time at College of Southern Nevada, but he isn’t done yet. When he does decide to change course again, it will be exciting to see what the future holds.

 

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