Mark Hickman is an automotive technology instructor in the GM Automotive Service Educational Program (ASEP). He began teaching at DCTC in 1988.
Mark recently earned his master's degree in public and nonprofit administration from Metropolitan State University. He has a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Minnesota. He also has an automotive technology diploma from Minneapolis Community and Technical College.
He has extensive industry experience, having worked 11 years as a General Motors master technician and two years as an independent technician.
An Automotive Service Excellence Master Certified Technician, Mark is a former GM Instructor of the Year. In 2007, he was recognized as a GM World Class Master Technician, the ultimate honor awarded by the General Motors Service Technical College. Mark was also named DCTC Instructor of the Year in 2009, and awarded the Minnesota State Award for Excellence in Teaching Award in 2010.
Regarding his teaching philosophy, he says, "I think that my students like to learn by actually doing or experiencing."
Seeing his students "get it" is the best part of his job as a DCTC instructor. "You know when they actually understand a new concept or how something works."
Mark's hobbies included downhill ski racing and inline blading.