Andres Elizalde

Associate Professor, English

Norco College School of Communication,
Humanities & Languages

I'm a product of the California Community College system. The community college system represents the best ideal that Americans offer the world. Marginalized students, in particular, benefit from an open-door policy that allows them to pursue a higher education. I proudly work at an inclusive institution that offers an egalitarian vision of what it means to be an American.

My personal background is unusual for a writing teacher. I was raised in Tijuana, a few blocks from the US-Mexico border, in a notoriously dangerous red district where most young people don’t reach my current age. My story is not unlike that of millions of brave immigrants who cross militarized borders looking for a better life.

I’ve helped thousands of community college students like you improve their writing and reading skills. I’ve developed a method for teaching writing based on universal learning principles from neuroscience and cognitive psychology. My approach to teaching can be summed up by the statement, “the one who does the work does the learning.”

I’m a proud father to two amazing daughters and have been married for twenty-years to my lovely wife. A seven-year old German Shepperd is my canine companion. I enjoy gardening and boxing in my spare time. And, in the grand scheme of things, I aim to treat others the way I want to be treated.

To view the English program page, click here.