SC4 sociology Professor Kraig Archer teaches because he likes working with people and sharing big ideas.

"It's a good fit for me," Archer said. "I like empowering people and finding creative ways to share information."

He also likes talking to students about philosophy and ideology, and what they want to do after they leave school.

Archer has been teaching at SC4 for 10 years, since he came to Michigan from San Diego County in 2000.

"I like community colleges like SC4 because they are fairly democratic," he said. "What I mean by that is they're open to everyone. I like the idea of everyone being able to get an education."

Archer earned an associate degree in liberal arts from Palomar Community College in California and a bachelor's degree in cultural anthropology and master's degree in sociology, both from San Diego State University.

He decided to teach sociology because of his interest in cultural anthropology. Sociology covers a variety of topics, such as minority relations, criminology, marital and familie relationships, and culture. He also has taught research method and sociological theory.

Archer said his teaching approach over the years has gone from being centered on content to being centered on students. He tailors his content to where the students are at and goes more in-depth on a subject instead of skimming the surface of numerous subjects.

"Teaching takes a lot of time to do well," he said. "I like it when students come to me and say I changed the way they think of things."

Archer is discipline coordinator of sociology and anthropology and adviser to SC4's Global Awareness Club.

The Global Awareness Club focuses on cultures and issues affecting people worldwide. It has raised money for organizations such as UNICEF, the American Red Cross and Heifer International and to help victims of natural disasters and war.

In the future, Archer wants to help develop degree programs. One idea he has focuses on service abroad where the student works with a non-profit organization. "It would lead students to have experience helping others overseas," he said.

Archer lives in St. Clair with his wife, Sarah, and son, Andrew, 8.

In his free time he likes to watch movies, read books, hike and camp, hang out with friends and spend a lot of time at the zoo with Andrew, who loves animals. He also is building a work table with Andrew to teach him about tools.