(ROSENBERG, Texas) – Sometimes it takes being a student to really get to know how to help one. For Timothy Moxley, at least, nothing could be truer.
Moxley is an instructor in the Diesel Equipment Technology program at Texas State Technical College’s Fort Bend County campus. But he is also a graduate of the very same program and, most recently, the Welding Technology program as well.
Before taking on his role as instructor, Moxley worked as a jet engine technician in the Air Force for 15 years. After retiring from the military, he took on jobs working on diesel trucks and construction equipment. Eventually he wanted to learn more and enrolled in the diesel program at TSTC.
“I took the program to help me fix my own equipment on my farm out in Needville,” he said. “Initially I had no intention to teach, but the opportunity kind of fell into my lap.”
He graduated from the program in 2023 and began teaching the following year. Still, Moxley wasn’t done learning yet. He decided he wanted to hone his welding skills and enrolled in the welding program with the intention of earning a certificate of completion.
“Basic welding techniques are often needed in diesel,” he said. “Having been a part of the welding program will help me teach my own students better.”
Moxley achieved his goal and graduated from the program on April 23. He feels he now knows how to better encourage and help his students in their own endeavors.
“Your instructors want to see you succeed,” he said. “Staying on top of your coursework will translate skills to the lab and hands-on materials so much better.”
In addition to TSTC’s Fort Bend County campus, Diesel Equipment Technology is available at the college’s Marshall, North Texas, Sweetwater and Waco campuses. It will also be available at the college’s Abilene and Harlingen campuses in the fall. Welding Technology is available at every TSTC campus.
Both programs are eligible for TSTC’s Money-Back Guarantee, in which tuition is refunded if the participating graduate has not received a job offer in their field of study within six months of graduation. For more information, visit tstc.edu/mbg.
Registration for TSTC’s summer and fall semesters is open. For more information, go to tstc.edu.