After thirty-five years and thousands of students, Professor Kegham Tazian is still doing what he loves: teaching art. Tazian, one of the longest serving faculty members at Oakland Community College, has also distinguished himself as an acclaimed artist. He views his students desire to learn and excel as a constant source of inspiration while creating his own sculptures and paintings. In the course of his tenure at OCC, Tazian, whose students range from recent high school graduates to retired professionals, has been privileged to teach some exceptionally talented individuals. Mindful of how difficult his road to success was, Tazian often cautions his students to the challenges presented to artists and the dedication required to excel in the field of art. His message to students interested in pursuing a career in art is that regardless of the artistic skills one may have, patience and the commitment to developing your abilities are critical to success.

"One of the most satisfying feelings I get as a teacher is when former students write to me or visit to tell me that I was instrumental in their success as artists or that I was a source of encouragement for them pursuing their artistic ambitions."

Kegham Tazian