Teaching since ’87, Larry Andre brings a load of experience with him to any campus he teaches. Students return to take his classes coming from previous classes since. It’s his teaching style that intrigues students to keep taking his classes. “I teach students to write their own philosophy,” said Andre. His mentality in the class is “I want you (the student) to succeed and I want to succeed,” he said. “It’s a partnership. I want them to like philosophy.” Maybe Larry Andre’s credentials say something as to why he has a lot of students who return to take his classes. He gained his Bachelor’s from St. Edwards University, has three Masters Degrees from the University of Portland (psychology), Mt. Angel Seminary and the California State University of Northridge. Andre also has two Doctorates from the University of Santa Barbara (now UCSB) and the Fielding Institute. Larry Andre began his teaching career in 1987 at East Los Angeles College where he taught there for five years. He taught at Mission College from ’93 to ’98 and then would move to Pierce. Recalling his impressions of Pierce he stated, “I liked it a lot. Pierce has a great reputation and great students,” he said. “I’ve seen the students change over time, but they’ve always been wonderful.” For Andre, he’s decided that his time teaching will be done July 1, 2008 where he will retire. He came to this decision around two years ago and noted one of his philosophies as a reason. “Everything needs to change,” he said. “I need change, Pierce needs change and the students need change.” He revealed that after retiring, he intends to “move to Oregon, spend the first year reflecting what I want to do,” he said. “I’ve spent a lot of time on campus.” Noting what he’d miss the most about Pierce he said that it’d be “the interaction with students.” “Watching different generations, looking at situations in different ways,” he said. “It’s a great job and I am going to miss that.”