Dr. Steven Hobbs: Dean of Allied Health and Sciences

Dr. Steven Hobbs, the new KCC Dean of Allied Health and Science for Klamath Community College, is passionate about education. More to the point, about how things work.

“I’ve always wanted to know the why. I’ve never been comfortable with just knowing something, I wanted to know why. It doesn’t matter what we’re talking about. We could be talking about economics or automotive and I would still want to know the why.”

That questioning has led him to explore everything from biology, chemistry and physics to astronomy and history.

The late astronomer Carl Sagan — also known for seeking answers to the why — is one of his favorite authors, having read all of his works, he said.

“I consider him one of my teachers,” he said. “I found out later in life that I am more of a historian than a scientist, because I like the history, too. I wanted to know what spurred historical scientists to do a particular thing.”

Dr. Hobbs, 42, grew up in the Permian Basin in west Texas, where the economic workhorse is oil. Oil rigs dot the landscape with alternative energy windmills starting to rise from the desert floor as well.

His quest for knowledge started at an early age when his grandmother first took him to the library. The wealth of books made him an insatiable reader, even to the point to committing to memory what he had read.

High school football is another driving force in west Texas. Permian High School’s 1988 championship run was the subject of a book and television series, “Friday Night Lights.” Dr. Hobbs opted for gymnastics, winning a national championship in pommel horse in 2000.

He attended the University of Texas at Permian Basin, majoring in both chemistry and biology. He also holds a doctorate in chiropractic from Parker College, where he was also a teaching assistant in gross anatomy. He has been the Dean of Workforce, having oversight of faculty and staff in the Allied Health professions, as well as a professor of biology and a division director of STEM at Howard College in Texas.

Of the staff in the KCC nursing program, Dr. Hobbs says, “I am highly impressed with the hiring of the individuals who in the positions that they are in, meaning the college hired the person who fit into that job perfectly. That is quite impressive!”

Hobbs will oversee cosmetology and the career services center on campus, too.

“I’m very comfortable with both nursing and cosmetology. They are considerable foundations of our workforce and I am happy to be a part of their programs. We have a lot of good changes coming for the near future, so keep an eye on them.”

Of KCC?

“I love it here. I get to see the students when they come in and they are all fired up and ready to go. But I also note the faculty have it, too. That’s the thing … they are ready for their education, that’s what I get excited about.

“My job is to help students, staff, and faculty. If they are stuck on something, a lesson or problem, how can I help to overcome that. I’m the support structure, a support beam. What can I do to help you the most?

“To me, the most important person on this campus is the student. We need to do all we can to make them successful.”