10 questions with

Jason Swartzlander

Why do you enjoy teaching at Bluffton? What makes it unique?
I like to make the connection with students and get to know them. That has been the most rewarding part of my job so far. The environment here is great - very welcoming. People live out the school's core values here.

What excites me about teaching accounting?
The best thing is the "I get it" moments - when things click for students. It is really rewarding when the difficult concepts sink in for students.

I knew I was destined to teach accounting when...
I was doing some adjunct work while I was also working in corporate accounting. It really felt comfortable and I got addicted.

Favorite class to teach and why...
I really enjoy every one of my classes. I enjoy Principles of Accounting a lot because that is one class with a lot of non-majors in it. Some of them have no idea coming in what accounting is, but through the class they get to see what the profession is like.

Favorite place/time/event on campus is...
when I get to go to a sporting event. I enjoy seeing the students that I have in class out on the court or field.

When I'm not teaching, I enjoy...
my family time, I have a wife and two small children. I also enjoy watching Minnesota Vikings football, church activities such as Upward Basketball, anything my kids are involved in. I like to support their activities.

My favorite high school teacher was...
Chuck Fahsholtz. He was my high school accounting teacher. He taught me a lot, not only in business and accounting, but how to be responsible. He and I are still friends to this day. I really value that. We first met when he chastised me for cutting in the lunch line one day. He still gives me a hard time about that.

My first job was...
I worked at a small grocery store. I was a bagger and stocked shelves.

As a college student, I was involved in...
I worked while going through school, pretty much full-time. That didn't leave a whole lot of time for anything else. I did do some intramurals.

Favorite vacation destination/activity...
Going to Charleston, S.C. I have a friend down there. It's a beautiful area and my kids love the beach.