2008 Woodie Awards
Retirement not on the horizon for longtime BC professor
Coumba Tamboura
Issue date: 11/21/03 Section: News
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Almost 42 years later, he is still here.
"I love teaching and I have a lot of joy inside of a classroom," said Allsman.
Allsman is a native of Randsburg in Kern County, who attended the University of California at Berkeley where he obtained his bachelor's degree.
He then went on to UC San Francisco's Medical Center for his doctorate in pharmacy and got the position at BC while visiting.
Teaching science, which Allsman describes as a "field on the leading edge of discovery," was an obvious choice for him.
"I was interested in the body, in chemistry, and it was a great opportunity for employment," he said.
The 66-year-old instructor is very passionate about his occupation and teaching elsewhere even for a higher salary is not an option for him.
"I know I can get a job elsewhere. I came here because I like this work and I'll miss it when I don't do it anymore," said Allsman.
However, it would take awhile for Allsman to stop teaching because retirement is not exactly what he is planning.
"I have always taken it a year at a time," said Allsman about departing the profession.
"I have a laboratory license, I could do that, and I may do that in retirement. But I am not there yet, and there is no point in crossing the bridge before you get to it."
In fact, Allsman also has certifications in three other departments he has taught at BC: the Physical Science, Chemistry and Business departments.
"I am constantly updating my information," said Allsman.
For him, it is the key to keeping up with changes.
Allsman spent a year in 1972 and again in 1992 visiting UCSF Medical Center and pharmaceutical industries all around the world. These were his only two absences from teaching.