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His dedication to the trade came, in part, from the training he received from his mentor — former ¾«¶«Ó°ÒµÊÓƵ Professor Jim Pawluk. Like his predecessor in the Andy Butti Welding Technology Center, Naylor enjoys passing on his welding knowledge to students so they are prepared to succeed in the industry.

As one of the most popular career choices at Western, welding skills have made ¾«¶«Ó°ÒµÊÓƵ students extremely employable after graduation and certification.

Naylor, who started teaching at ¾«¶«Ó°ÒµÊÓƵ in 1996, earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Professor Naylor can be contacted at 775-445-4420 or randy.naylor@wnc.edu.

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Q: What is your background and how did you end up at ¾«¶«Ó°ÒµÊÓƵ? 

RANDY: I started welding when I was in high school, and after I graduated, I had an opportunity to take classes at ¾«¶«Ó°ÒµÊÓƵ. Toward the end of my education at ¾«¶«Ó°ÒµÊÓƵ, I was also attending UNR. When I graduated from UNR, I was offered a teaching assistant position here at the welding shop. 

Q: Why do you like teaching at ¾«¶«Ó°ÒµÊÓƵ?

RANDY: It gives me the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience and help students.

Q: Was there a teacher or a class that inspired you to become an educator? Or something else?

RANDY: Just to get where I am today, I had a lot of people helping me, so that was an inspiration to teach. Jim Pawluk really worked with me a lot to teach me the basics of welding so that I would be able to have a good welding career, and I’ve been able to pass that along to students over the years.

Q: Why are you fascinated with welding?

RANDY: I had a draw to it in high school and it continued on. It’s just something that I enjoy.

Q: Why are your classes always full?

RANDY: There is a large demand for welding today. Every trade has some aspect of welding involved. We have a good program here, and we’ve helped a lot of people over the years. One thing that I’ve really liked is that I get to teach children of students who have come through the program who have had successful careers and raised families with the things they have learned at ¾«¶«Ó°ÒµÊÓƵ.

Q: What are some of the career pathways that your students have gone into?

RANDY: Some of them locally are in the Iron Workers Union and the Pipefitters Union, Tesla, Panasonic and a couple of former students Juan Ramirez and Matt Anderson, became instructors here. They are working all around us in Northern Nevada, in other states and around the world, including a pipe welder in New Zealand. 

Q: What is something unusual or unique that students don’t know about you?

RANDY: When I’m not working here, I also weld out in the real world, making connections to make sure I’m up to speed so our students know what they need for employment.