166su

He used to have a chemistry lab in the basement of his family’s home.

That’s where he did experiments, like making fireworks. When those were over, he’d go to the local hardware store get more items for more experiments.

It was that passion that eventually brought him to Florida for a few years and ultimately to Danville Community College, where for 31 years he taught students and oversaw the arts, science and business department as dean.

On March 31, he ended his more than three decades at Danville Community College.

“I’m looking forward to retiring, but at the same time, it’s obviously a mixed blessing, I guess,” he told the Register & Bee in an interview before his final day.

“It’s a joy working here,” he said. “It’s a wonderful place to work.”

Although he’s retired, he’ll still be back for graduation next month to read the names of students as they walk across the stage, something he enjoys.

“I just thought it was time basically,” he said when asked what triggered him to retire. “I’ve been here 31 years and I just thought it was time to do something different.”

But it was those home experiments that started his path.

“I enjoyed it, I just enjoyed science,” he said. “I think it’s a certain way of thinking.”

He called it a “long story” when asked what brought him to America in 1986.

That’s when he was still in the United Kingdom doing post-doctoral research and was sponsored by an American company to come to a conference near Jacksonville, Florida.

It was at that conference that he met someone from the University of Florida who offered him a job.

“I thought, this is great,” he said, recalling the scenes of “Miami Vice” at the time with fast cars zooming around the Florida landscape.

“Of course, at the University of Florida, it was nothing like that,” he said.

After staying there for seven years, he started looking for something else.

“Money was running out at the federal level, and the private level as well,” he said of research funding. “It was like a mini-recession.”

On a Sunday, he saw an ad in the Gainesville Sun: wanted, chemistry instructor.

A day later, he called about it. Asking how quickly he could come for an interview, he got in the car and went to Lake City Community College.

“They said if you want the job, it’s yours,” he explained. “I keep lucking into jobs basically, it seems.”

After being there for a year, he was still looking for other options when a position at Danville Community College came open.

“The Danville job seemed better, so I moved here,” he said, pointing to the fact that he had never heard of the River City before.

The only loose connection was a former boss at the University of Florida who was from 166su Rapids, North Carolina. That boss had a relative who taught school nearby in Caswell County, North Carolina.

After coming to Danville in 1994, he never left.

Why stay here?

When asked why he never ventured away from DCC, he said he enjoyed teaching over research.

“Teaching is somewhat different every day,” Fox told the newspaper.

Plus, being from a big city in the UK, he liked the smaller-city atmosphere of Danville.

And, there were fewer traffic jams.

Fox always tried to infuse his lectures with energy.

“I’d illustrate quantum states by jumping on chairs and tables and jumping, just trying to relate chemistry to other situations, stuff you can’t see to stuff you can see,” he explained.

When preparing for class, he’d look at a textbook and try to put the lesson in a frame that was understandable to everyday life, he explained.

“The reality is for a lot of classes, once you’ve done it a couple of times, it teaches itself, really,” he said.

The scientific method would also come up when he was looking over exams. For example, if 9 out of 10 people got a question incorrect, he’d ask himself, “Why is that?”

Either the answer was wrong, or he said he wasn’t teaching it as well as he should. That meant he needed to make a change.

“Always analyze your data,” he joked, making a reference to science.

Switching to dean

In 2011, Fox took over as dean of the department, something that offered a new challenge, but took him out of his classroom.

However, over the years, he’s been back in front of the chalkboard — or electronic screen as is standard in today’s classes — to teach for Early College or cover when an instructor is out.

“That was enjoyable,” he said of his classroom time. “I really enjoy the student interaction again.”

But just because he was dean, it didn’t mean the student synergy stopped. He always kept an open-door policy and often would still chat with students each day.

“As dean, you basically have to deal with more ad-hoc issues,” he said of the move from the classroom.

Sometimes things pop up and must be handled with right away.

“Probably juggling more balls than a teacher, that’s for sure,” he said.

“The other thing is to stay calm,” he also explained in his dean role. “Because sometimes situations do tend to be frustrating.”

Cornelius Johnson, the interim president of DCC, said that Fox’s influence goes deeper than just the jobs he’s held at the college.

“He has been a mentor, a leader and a steadfast advocate for both students and faculty,” Johnson wrote in a statement.

“His passion for education and his ability to navigate challenges with wisdom and grace have made him an invaluable part of this institution,” he continued. “Personally, I have had the privilege of working alongside Paul, and I can say without hesitation that his impact will be lasting.”

Changes

As technology evolves, it also seems to shift how students think and react, almost wanting instant response.

“I think social media and email have changed students’ expectations,” Fox explained.

For example, before he retired, Fox was talking to his replacement, Jeff Fields, who had received an email at 3:40 p.m. one day complaining that an instructor had not communicated back to the student.

Fields asked if the email that was sent could be forwarded to him. It turns out the student only sent the email 20 minutes earlier and was not pleased it wasn’t instantly answered.

“It’s because they use text communication,” Fox said of how the younger generation views messaging as on-demand replies.

When email was first “becoming a thing,” some teachers at the college shied away from using it.

“Technology is changing society and students in general,” he said, while also admitting that the attention gap for students is widening.

He also said he’s noticed that fewer high school graduates are coming to DCC without the reading and math skills of previous generations, something that isn’t just a local or national program.

“Our students have told us in Early College that they don’t read much anymore,” he said of the program that offers high school students college courses on campus for half a day.

The most seismic shift came when the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a new way of thinking for classes.

“When COVID came, everything moved online,” Fox said.

“A lot of it has stayed there,” he continued. “I think students find that more convenient now.”

Online classes fill up “straight away,” he said.

Around campus, the expansion of programs, like machining, and the increased interest in early childhood education are among the shifts Fox has seen over his time at the college.

He said those are things that provide a pathway for students to learn a trade or continue their education elsewhere.

For Danville, Fox also has been a witness to the transformation from a textile and tobacco hub to more diverse industries with a rising downtown and a new casino.

“I remember going down there years ago, there’s empty storefronts, there’s really not much happening,” he recalled.

Then a coffee shop opened in what’s known as the River District of the city, offering a spot to go for lunch when he was teaching.

“Now the whole Craghead Street is becoming revitalized,” he said. “It’s come alive.”

Fox also pointed to Caesar’s Virginia resort, which is bringing in tax revenue for the city.

Final days

As his final days grew near, Fox said he was going to miss his colleagues most of all, in addition to the day-to-day interaction with students.

“It has been a privilege to work with Dr. Fox over the past 20-some years,” David Balfour, professor of biology, said.

“His dedication to the college and his style of leadership have been appreciated by many colleagues during his time at DCC,” Balfour explained. “He is a true Renaissance scholar who can switch easily from discussing world events, to philosophical treatises, to the latest scientific discovery.

DCC’s interim vice president of academic affairs and student services also had high praise for Fox, pointing to his dedication to student learning and helping faculty.

“Paul’s impact on this institution cannot be overstated,” Gabriel Olmstead said. “He has been a guiding force in our academic programs and a mentor to so many.”

Now that he’s retired, Fox wants to travel more, explaining he hasn’t been back to the UK in about six years.

Along with renovating his house, Fox wants to volunteer more and mentioned Project Literacy as one of the nonprofits for which he enjoys donating his time.

Not having to show up at the campus may be an adjustment, but one thing he won’t miss will be the technology tethering.

He was looking forward to having his college email cut off, since he checks it at least every half hour at home in the evenings.

“His retirement marks the end of an era, but his legacy will continue to inspire us all,” Olmstead said.