Zopito Marini in his office in the Plaza Building

Zopito Marini is a professor of Child and Youth Studies. A 25-year employee of Brock, he served as founding chair of his department. On Thursday, he was awarded the prestigious 2010 3M National Teaching Fellowship. He lives in St. Catharines with his wife Helen and has two sons, both of whom are Brock students.

What do you like about your job?

I really like my students. To me, seeing them in the first year and then in their third and fourth years…as a student of development, it’s so neat for me to see the change in these people. In the first year, you’re timid and don’t know where you fit. But they come into their third and fourth years mature and confident.

What do you do for fun?

Photography is one thing I enjoy. I’m more and more getting into wine tasting. Whenever I can, I play golf.

Where did you go on your last vacation?

My wife and I drove from Vancouver to Calgary through the mountains. It was such a reminder of how nice this country is. Around every corner, just when we didn’t think the vista could get any better, it did. We really do live in a great country.