Last fall’s opening of the new Workforce Training Facility at the Paris Junior College – Greenville Center created a need for new Electrician and Mechatronics program faculty.
Ready to begin this fall are Electronics faculty David Hartman and Mechatronics faculty Isabella Sanchez-Haynes. Both are eager to begin teaching fall classes beginning August 25, 2025.
“We’re excited to have the new building and the new programs expanding,” said PJC Vice President of Workforce Education Dr. Michael Erny. “We’ve purchased equipment and hired new faculty, and we’re looking forward to serving the needs of the local community.”
Hartman recently traveled to Paris to meet with Electrician program coordinator Russell Dieterich. They reviewed the curriculum and equipment to train students in the new lab for this high demand field.
“It’s growth,” said Dieterich. “We have an opportunity to get more electricians in the field. Qualified instructors getting qualified students into the field – that’s the whole goal.”
While Hartman finishes out the lab facility in Greenville, he’ll be teaching dual-credit high school students as well as starting a new class in the Workforce Training Facility. He lives in Greenville and has taught electrical, carpentry, and masonry skills for 13 years.
“I’m excited about seeing Greenville grab a hold of this program,” Hartman said. “The high school has needed this for a long time, and the college getting involved will be good. I enjoy teaching these skills.”
“We’re working on building a schedule for the full program delivery for the fall,” said Erny of the Electrician program.
The Mechatronics program is ready to go for the fall as well, now that faculty is hired.
Sanchez-Haynes is a PJC alumna of the Mechatronics program, working several years for a large corporation before returning to PJC to train students. She says it’s incredibly rewarding and full circle to return as faculty.
“Having experienced the program firsthand,” said Sanchez-Haynes, “I understand the students’ journey and can bring both academic insight and real-world industry experience to the role.”
She finds the new facility and equipment exciting and says they represent a commitment to cutting-edge education, giving students hands-on experience with the latest technology to prepare them for high-demand careers like hers at Texas Instruments.
“Mechatronics is a field where creativity meets problem-solving,” Sanchez-Haynes said. “With PJC’s updated tools and passionate instructors, you’ll gain skills that open doors to industries like automation, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. Stay curious, ask questions, and dive into every hands-on opportunity. That’s how I succeeded, and you can
too!”
Another program building at the PJC-Greenville Center is Aviation Technology. Currently offered as apprenticeships for high school students with PJC partner L3Harris, the goal is to offer courses at the Center in 2026. Erny says the College is working through the Federal Aviation Administration’s process to gain approval for those classes.
The future is bright for the PJC-Greenville Center and prospective students, and Sanchez Haynes encourages students to embrace challenges.
“Every lesson, lab, and setback helps build your expertise, and your journey here will equip you to be part of that,” Sanchez-Haynes said. “Let’s build the future together!”
For more information about the Electrician program, contact Dieterich at rdieterich@parisjc.edu or Hartman at dhartman@parisjc.edu; for Mechatronics, contact Sanchez-Haynes at isanchezhaynes@parisjc.edu. For general information, call the PJC Greenville Center at 903-454-9333 or visit at 6500 Monty Stratton Parkway.
