Teaching Portfolio - Benjamin M. Lamb, PhD

Assistant Professor, Information Technology, Brightpoint Community College

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About Me

I am a passionate educator with a unique blend of academic rigor and industry experience in Information Technology and Computer Science. My teaching philosophy centers on bridging theoretical concepts with practical, real-world applications to prepare students for successful careers in technology.

Educational Background

PhD in Sociology - University of Colorado
Master of Information Technology - Virginia Tech (Software Development Concentration)
20+ Industry Certifications from CompTIA, AWS, Oracle, VMware, and Microsoft

Professional Experience

IT Faculty - Virginia Community College System (VCCS)
- Currently Assistant Professor of Information Technology at Brightpoint Community College
- Courses taught: ITN101, ITP120, ITD130, ITP140, ITE140, ITE152, ITP220, CSC223, ITP246
Previous Instructor - Virginia Western Community College, Roanoke
- Fully remote/asynchronous IT and Computer Science courses with high student evaluations
- Delivered CS Scholar Lecture on algorithmic foundations of AI/ML and implications for teaching programming
Industry Experience
- IT Consulting in cloud and cybersecurity for Fortune 500 enterprises
- Career progression from Help Desk T1 Support to Senior Consultant

Teaching Philosophy

I believe in creating an inclusive, engaging learning environment where students can connect theoretical knowledge with practical skills. My diverse background—from sociology to software development, from help desk to enterprise consulting—allows me to relate to students at all levels and provide real-world context to academic concepts.

Key principles:

Hands-on Learning: Emphasizing practical labs and real-world scenarios
Industry Relevance: Incorporating current industry trends and best practices
Student Success: Providing mentorship and career guidance beyond the classroom
Continuous Improvement: Staying current with technology trends and pedagogical methods

Recognition & Achievements

2024-2025

Student Recognition Award - Graduation Survey Recognition for exceptional teaching and student impact
Outstanding Adjunct Faculty Evaluation - July 2024

Teaching Highlights

Consistently positive student evaluations
Development of innovative lab exercises bridging theory and practice
Guest speaker on AI/ML foundations in computer science education
Active contributor to curriculum development and improvement

Portfolio Contents

This repository contains documentation of my teaching journey and professional development:

2025/

Fall 2025 Course Materials (ITP 140 & ITP 220)
Student Recognition Documentation
Course Syllabi and Learning Outcomes

2024/

Adjunct Faculty Performance Evaluation
Course Development Materials

2023/

Historical Teaching Materials and Resources

older/

Archive of Previous Teaching Materials

Documents

Teaching Portfolio (PDF) - Comprehensive teaching portfolio
Professional Resume (PDF) - Current CV with teaching and industry experience
Professional Biography - Brief professional bio

Current Focus Areas

Cloud Computing & DevOps: Integrating AWS, Azure, and containerization technologies into curriculum
Cybersecurity: Preparing students for CompTIA Security+ and other industry certifications
AI/ML Integration: Exploring responsible ways to incorporate AI tools in computer science education
Career Readiness: Helping students build portfolios and prepare for technical interviews

Contact Information

I welcome opportunities to collaborate with fellow educators, contribute to curriculum development, or discuss innovative teaching methodologies.

Email: benjaminmlamb@icloud.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/benlambm
GitHub: github.com/benlambm