Robert Cartelli is on the business faculty at Colorado Mountain College in Summit County, and Jeremy Deem teaches outdoor education, history and sustainable studies. And though their subject areas are different, their positive impacts on students are similar.
Each year, the students, staff and faculty of Colorado Mountain College nominate one outstanding full-time and one adjunct faculty member from each of CMC’s seven campuses and the college’s online learning department. From those honorees, senior administrators then select a collegewide award recipient in each of the two categories.
This year, it was Cartelli and Deem’s time to shine at the campus with locations in Breckenridge and Dillon. Cartelli has received the full-time Faculty of the Year Award, while Deem has received the award for teaching part-time.
‘The most effective teacher I have yet encountered’
Deem has lived in Summit County for 17 years. Originally from West Virginia, he was a Colorado Outward Bound instructor for seven years, and has 16 years of experience guiding river, rock climbing and canyoneering expeditions worldwide.
“I’m a kayaker and ski bum at heart,” he said.
That passion for the outdoors propelled Deem into joining Colorado Mountain College’s faculty five years ago.
“I basically begged Brian Taylor [program director for CMC’s outdoor education and emergency medical services],” he said.
Taylor hired Deem to teach outdoor ed classes, but it didn’t end there. Deem holds two history degrees: a bachelor’s from Ohio University and a master’s from Colorado State University.
“When they heard I had a master’s, they said, ‘Oh my God,’” Deem said. “That’s when I started teaching history classes.”
Now, besides outdoor education, Deem teaches Colorado and American Indian history, emergency medical services and sustainability studies.
“Jeremy uses interactive learning styles and openly engages the entire classroom in relevant and intriguing conversation,” wrote a student who took Deem’s American Indian History course. “He is the most dedicated and effective teacher I have yet to encounter.”
Dave Askeland, vice president of Colorado Mountain College in Breckenridge and Dillon, agrees.
“Jeremy is a master teacher,” he said. “Students appreciate not only his expertise in teaching but also his respect and encouragement to keep trying.”
For Deem, the learning never stops. He is currently pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Northern Colorado, and is humbled by receiving his Faculty of the Year Award.
“I can think of several others teaching at the college who are certainly more deserving,” he said.
From his perspective, continuing to teach at Colorado Mountain College is not just appealing now, but far into the future.
“I want to be at CMC forever. Well, maybe someday,” Deem said with a smile, looking out at the Summit County snow piled high, “we may want to go someplace warmer.”
Bringing teamwork, real-world skills to students
Want to know what it’s like to start your own small bakery or consult with AT&T during the dot-com boom-and-bust era? At CMC in Summit County, you can turn to business faculty member: Robert Cartelli.
A business educator with overseas online teaching experience, Cartelli, who’s originally from Connecticut, has taught at the college for the past eight years. He’s known for his innovative, uncompromising and energized teaching style.
“Robert incorporates teamwork to arm students with the real-world skills that they will need in the workplace,” said campus vice president Askeland. “He brings passion and energy to the classroom.”
Cartelli said even though he teaches in the mountains of Colorado, he stresses a world view to his students.
“You need an international business perspective,” he said. “What’s important is business students being able to work across borders, time zones, cultures, religions and technologies. Business students need to understand all of these nuances. Sooner or later, you will have international partners, competitors or customers; you need to know something about them.”
And the takeaway he wants for his students?
“I want them to go out in three years and say, ‘Thank goodness I took that class,’” he said. “That’s what I’m after. I want them to contribute confidently and competently to their work and their communities.”