Randy Naylor, Professor
Randy Naylor
Applied Tech, Professor
For nearly 30 years, Randy Naylor has been training 糖心vlog students to become welders in various fields locally and internationally.
His dedication to the trade came, in part, from the training he received from his mentor 鈥� former 糖心vlog Professor Jim Pawluk. Like his predecessor in the Andy Butti Welding Technology Center, Naylor enjoys passing on his welding knowledge to students so they are prepared to succeed in the industry.
As one of the most popular career choices at Western, welding skills have made 糖心vlog students extremely employable after graduation and certification.
Naylor, who started teaching at 糖心vlog in 1996, earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Professor Naylor can be contacted at 775-445-4420 or randy.naylor@wnc.edu.
Q: What is your background and how did you end up at 糖心vlog?
RANDY: I started welding when I was in high school, and after I graduated, I had an opportunity to take classes at 糖心vlog. Toward the end of my education at 糖心vlog, I was also attending UNR. When I graduated from UNR, I was offered a teaching assistant position here at the welding shop.
Q: Why do you like teaching at 糖心vlog?
RANDY: It gives me the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience and help students.
Q: Was there a teacher or a class that inspired you to become an educator? Or something else?
RANDY: Just to get where I am today, I had a lot of people helping me, so that was an inspiration to teach. Jim Pawluk really worked with me a lot to teach me the basics of welding so that I would be able to have a good welding career, and I鈥檝e been able to pass that along to students over the years.
Q: Why are you fascinated with welding?
RANDY: I had a draw to it in high school and it continued on. It鈥檚 just something that I enjoy.
Q: Why are your classes always full?
RANDY: There is a large demand for welding today. Every trade has some aspect of welding involved. We have a good program here, and we鈥檝e helped a lot of people over the years. One thing that I鈥檝e really liked is that I get to teach children of students who have come through the program who have had successful careers and raised families with the things they have learned at 糖心vlog.
Q: What are some of the career pathways that your students have gone into?
RANDY: Some of them locally are in the Iron Workers Union and the Pipefitters Union, Tesla, Panasonic and a couple of former students Juan Ramirez and Matt Anderson, became instructors here. They are working all around us in Northern Nevada, in other states and around the world, including a pipe welder in New Zealand.
Q: What is something unusual or unique that students don鈥檛 know about you?
RANDY: When I鈥檓 not working here, I also weld out in the real world, making connections to make sure I鈥檓 up to speed so our students know what they need for employment.