The 65-year-old chairperson of the Theater Arts Department will be retiring at the end on the semester in June.
Gene Putnam, who has been teaching for 42 years with 22 of those spent at Pierce College, says that it’s time to move on.
“I wanted to be a teacher since I was a child, and I got to live that dream,” Putnam said. “There comes a point where you’ve done all you can and it’s time to turn a new page.”
Putnam worked close with students as a director, and with other professors as the chair or the Theater Arts Department for 12 years.
“I’ve had many talented students over the years,” Putnam said. “We are a very tight knit group of people.”
The department has grown a lot over the years, according to Putnam, with the addition of musicals to the expansion of equipment during his term at Pierce.
“I’m not leaving permanently,” Putnam said. “I’ll still be teaching a class or two, and I will be leaving the department in really good hands.”
Directing musicals was Putnam’s favorite part of teaching, but he loved getting to see new talented and dedicated students during his teaching career.
“Things are constantly changing; every semester you have to evolve,” Putnam said. “You have to change with the times and the students.”
The department has done a great job of educating and preparing students, according to Putnam.
“It’s hard to gauge the success of students because theater is such a competitive field,” Putnam said. “But a lot of our students have gone on to act and direct.”
As of now, Putman remains the department chair until June 30. Elections will be hosted Friday to pick the new department chair.