Sinkaset joins forces with LV science

photo by Juan Garcia

Dr. Namphol Sinkaset, who recently earned his doctorate from UCSD, has taught for the Chemistry Department for the last six months. While at UCSD, he was a teacher's assistant for two and a half years. He enjoys the small class size at ULV which allows professors to get to know their students and helps open students up for better instruction.

by Robert Anthony Thurman
Staff Writer

The University of La Verne chemistry department can add another fine professor to their list of greats, due to the arrival of a young and ambitious assistant professor.

Namphol Sinkaset, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry, arrived to the ULV campus six months ago and is so far enjoying his stay at La Verne.

"I like it here so far," Sinkaset said. "It is nice, small and the people are friendly."

Sinkaset is no stranger to small places, or big places for that matter. He was born in San Francisco 28 years ago and immediately moved to rural Livermore.

At age five, Sinkaset and his family packed their bags once more and moved further south to Lompoc, where he lived until he moved away to college.

"It is okay living in a small town," Sinkaset said. "Here at least you can drive to Los Angeles, but in Lompoc you are just in Lompoc. There is no where else to go."

Sinkaset never took time out of college since the moment he entered. Immediately after high school, he went to Louisiana to attend Tulane University in New Orleans where he received his bachelors.

From there he moved back to California to attend the University of California San Diego, where he earned both his M.S. and Ph.D. by the age of 28.

Sinkaset says his early success is a result of hard-work, lots of studying and attending college continuously.

Sinkaset said he had a great time while attending undergraduate school, where he got the opportunity to meet a lot of good people who he still keeps in contact with today.

While his friends were working towards medical school, Sinkaset realized he medical field was not for him and teaching was his true calling.

"It is [teaching] something that I always liked to do," Sinkaset said. "I always taught at Tulane, it is just something I like. I didn't really like how they wanted you [med students] to think a certain way; I always thought my own way."

Besides his ambitious nature, Sinkaset has his parents to thank as well for his accomplishments. He said his parents' embedded education into him and his two younger sisters since birth.

"There was never a question that we were not going to college,"Sinkaset said.

"My parents used to look into my crib and say 'you are going to go to college to be this or that.' But I'm definitely glad about it; it is always good to have someone pushing you. I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for them."

Since Sinkaset was raised in a household where education was highly rated, he admits that he can be a little tough on his students and will often push them as he was pushed.

But he said the hard work now will pay off later.

"I believe that the students are a reflection of me," he said.

"I want them to be the best that they can be and successful at whatever they do, so I'll tend to push them pretty hard, but in the end it will pay off."

Sinkaset is hoping to bring an active research program to the chemistry department, which is currently lacking one.

At the moment, in addition to teaching, he is working on developing the research program.

Sinkaset makes a great addition to the chemistry department, to the ULV faculty and to students' lives. He is a person who has worked hard, and his perseverance and dedication reflects in his teaching style.

"He is the most awesome teacher I have ever had," said junior chemistry major Kasi Sendziak. "He pushes us a lot and is very hard but he is fair."

For now, Sinkaset might only be an assistant professor, but with his history of hard work and consistency, he will soon earn his stripes and be crowned professor in no time.