The passion Alex Chernyakov feels for teaching her students is obvious - even if it took a while for her to realize it herself.

Born in Russia, her family immigrated to Israel when Chernyakov was a teenager. She later moved to Ithaca and started classes at TC3. That’s where her love of teaching first appeared, serving as a tutor helping her fellow students. “Students often told me that my explanations helped them better understand the material,” said Chernyakov. “With this thought simmering in the back of my mind, I began to feel a stronger desire to dedicate myself to helping others.” 

She continued her education – and her tutoring – while earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Rochester Institute of Technology. After graduating, the desire to teach took a back seat, but it never left her mind. She spent nearly two decades in the private sector, working on various consumer and industrial applications, designing hardware and firmware for products like digital image barcode scanners and laser diode wafer testers. She supported global customers in integrating MEMS accelerometers into consumer, industrial, and automotive markets. She was successful and doing important work, but the itch to teach was always there. When she decided to take the leap and scratch that itch, the timing was perfect – TC3 was looking for someone with practical, real-world experience that would help them be effective in a classroom. It was a great fit for both Chernyakov and TC3, and her connections to local technology companies have proven particularly helpful. “I have used these ties to grow the electrical engineering program at TC3 and help students secure internships and full-time opportunities within the community,” she said.

Now she is helping shape the next generation of electrical engineers. “One area where I feel especially passionate is increasing diversity in electrical engineering, particularly regarding gender, race, and physical abilities,” she said.

“My hope is to make a difference by actively supporting all students from the start of their journey. I tell my students that it is important for those designing products for everyone to reflect the diversity of everyone. Thus, you all belong here, and it is crucial for you to be where design decisions are made!”

Alex Chernyakov
Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering
Tompkins Cortland Community College; A.S., Engineering Science
Rochester Institute of Technology; B.S. and M.S., Electrical Engineering

In her own words
Why did you want to work at TC3?
I truly enjoyed and cherished my time at TC3 as a student. It had a significant impact on me, both academically and personally, and set me on the path to success.

I also strongly believe in the mission of community colleges. We provide open enrollment, high-quality, and affordable education. Many of our graduates return to the community with the skills local employers seek, which strengthens our community as a whole.

What do you like best about working at TC3?
It's both the students and my fellow faculty and staff.

TC3 has a very diverse student body, including a significant number of non-traditional students, which enriches the learning experience for everyone. This includes working adults, individuals with families seeking career changes or skill upgrades, and international students.

The faculty and staff at TC3 are the most dedicated people I've ever worked with. Unlike in the private sector, where goals are often focused on higher pay and career growth, at TC3 our only metric is student success. This is very different from larger universities, where the primary focus for faculty often lies in research and publications.

How would you describe your best students - what characteristics do they share?
My best students are those who come to class eager to learn. They pay attention, participate in discussions, ask questions, and put in the necessary effort outside of class. They also do not hesitate to seek my help during office hours. Since I teach many entry-level classes, I don’t expect my students to come in with prior knowledge—just the willingness to learn.

What have you learned from your students?
As a new professor, I was encouraged to learn that my students are open-minded and forgiving. They see that I put 100% of myself into helping them learn, and they respect that. In turn, I do my best to support them, recognizing that they often balance education with numerous personal responsibilities.