Dallas College

Student Experience: Marques G. Washington

“I took a drafting course when I was in high school in Corsicana. We got the chance to draw whatever we wanted, and I thought it was really fun. So I decided to get an associate degree, but the technical institute nearest my home was really expensive. My mom found the college on the Internet — I’d never even been there before I went to sign up for the CADD program.

“Mike Kirkpatrick [now retired after more than 30 years of teaching] was one of my favorite professors, and my favorite CADD class was 3-D modeling. “Now I’m the CADD program coordinator and a faculty member. What I love about my job is helping students who start out not being able to draw anything, then go on to four-year universities or get good jobs.”

Marques Washington earned an associate degree in Computer Aided Drafting and Design in 2001 and began teaching in the CADD program in 2009.


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Alonzo Adams

Alonzo L. Adams

Self-Employed Mechanic Adjunct Automotive Technology Faculty Cedar Valley
“I was eager to learn, and the Diesel program really excited me. The more I learned, the more I realize it’s not so hard. All of my instructors have been knowledgeable; any questions I had for them, they were pretty much able to answer everything. These are great courses if you want to work on diesel engines.”
Automotive, Automotive Technology, Automotive Technology - Diesel and Heavy Equipment
Rafael Merren

Rafael Merren

Owner/Operator Grump’s Rod Shop
“It’s great to have intelligent capabilities, but if you don’t have the skillsets to back them up, what’s the point of going out into the real world? If you have a practical skill, you can always put bread on the table.”
Auto Body Technology
Kathryn Jaeger

Kathryn Jaeger

Technician, Trophy Nissan of Mesquite
“People look at a car and open the hood and see all the hoses and connections, and maybe think, ‘I am never going to figure this out.' Then you learn the basic concepts, and it’s more simplistic than you would think.”
Automotive Technology
Doug Jochum

Doug Jochum

Art Teacher Skyline High School
“The students here are also attentive and helpful — I found out right away that there’s a group of them who have been here a while and who will chip in to help you do anything you don’t understand or help hold something you’re working on. I think that attitude is a reflection of the teaching here as well.”
Welding
Marques Washington
Marques G. Washington
CADD Program Coordinator and Faculty
Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD)
School of Manufacturing and Industrial Technology
Updated July 28, 2026