Connor Nolan
Pronouns: he/him
Graduation year: 2020
Hometown: Bellevue, WA
Currently living in: Denver, CO
Current occupation: Director of Education at the Catamount Center for Environmental Science and Education.
What was your experience at CC like as an Education minor?
I absolutely loved having the opportunity to minor in Education at CC. I was lucky enough to do the TREE semester the Fall of my sophomore year which exposed me to incredible, transformational, educational opportunities that opened me up to the world of teaching and helped me realize that’s what I wanted to pursue with my life and career. When I returned I found I had a passion for history through taking a few wonderful introductory blocks which translated perfectly to my new desire to pursue education. Across the board, every professor I had in both the history and education department had a significant impact on me personally and professionally that helped me get to where I am today.
Why were you interested in focusing on Education at CC?
I really enjoyed the ability to develop my own curriculum and build relationships with real students as an undergraduate during my time at the TREE semester. That experience helped me to then come back to CC and figure out what I wanted to teach, how, when, and why. The Education department at CC really emphasizes giving undergraduates opportunities to teach in real life situations with real students – putting relationship building and the development of individual pedagogies first. That was something I really appreciated which helped influence my decision to focus on Education at CC.
How are you using your major in your post-CC life?
Upon graduating with a Master's in the Art of Teaching in 2021 from Colorado College, I spent time working in formal and informal education at primary, secondary and undergraduate levels in various multicultural contexts. Most of that work was done as the Education Director for a non-profit environmental education center in Woodland Park, Colorado.I’m currently working as an associate teacher at a wonderful independent school called, The Little School. Both my sister and I went there from kindergarten – 5th grade and it’s so great to be home. I’m working primarily with the 4th and 5th grades, however, partner across the school to support the many different kinds of programming we do at TLS. We’re lucky to be located on a beautiful forested campus and part of a progressive educational community which allows for lots of integration across disciplines. Above all – the work done at the little school is relational and human-centered.