Caring Campus Employee Spotlight: Marc Aguinaga

St. Philip’s College Surgical Technology Program Director and Professor Marc Aguinaga believes student success starts with connection.

Professor Aguinaga has been a Surgical Technologist for almost 30 years, in education for 12 years, and at St. Philip’s College for 3 years in January 2026. He is among the faculty members participating in the new Caring Campus initiative, launched at the beginning of the Fall 2025 semester. The effort, developed by a group of 20 to 30 instructors selected for their high student persistence and success rates, aims to create a culture of support by training faculty to foster engagement and a sense of belonging in the classroom.

For Professor Aguinaga, that means starting with something simple: conversation. On the first day of class, he gives students four icebreaker questions: “Who are you? Why are you here? What scares you? What brings you joy?”. These four questions help him to learn more about the student’s motivations and challenges.

“Based on their responses, we’re able to identify where students might need support,” Professor Aguinaga said. “When they share their fears, we can help them develop coping skills. And when they share their goals, we can remind them of what drives them.”

He says these small moments can make a lasting impact. “Many moons ago, someone did the same for me,” he said. “That one phone call gave me the motivation to finish the semester and complete my degree. Now, I’m paying it forward.”

To keep his early morning students energized, he even sets up a coffee cart before class. “We start clinicals at 6 a.m.,” he said with a laugh. “A little coffee and conversation go a long way.”

Recently, Professor Aguinaga experienced what he calls a “full-circle moment.” While at the hospital with his wife for a scheduled surgery, he was cared for by a former student.

“She said, ‘You took care of me once, and now I can take care of you,’” he recalled. “That’s what this work is all about.”