Leith Adams, biology professor, is the most interesting man in the world; he doesn’t always drink beer, but when he does, he brews it himself.

Pardon the Dos Equis reference, but based on his life outside of school, many students consider Adams to hold the same title as Jonathan Goldsmith, the beer company’s spokesman.

Adams has been a part of the Nicholls family for 14 years as both a student and a faculty member. He began his undergraduate degree in 1997 as a pre-med student but later switched to microbiology.

“I realized that I didn’t really like people enough to go poking and prodding, so that’s why I changed,” Adams said. “It was easy to switch over.”

After he finished his bachelor’s degree, Adams went on to earn his master’s degree.

“Nicholls had just started the master’s program, so I hopped onto that,” Adams said. “I claim to be the first person to graduate from the master’s program.”

Upon receiving his master’s degree, Adams began teaching as a graduate assistant. Soon after, the freshman biology 105 and 106 professor retired.

“They needed someone to fill his spot,” Adams said. “I never thought I would become a teacher, but it pays the bills.”

Adams says that his favorite part about teaching is seeing people understand something for the first time.

“I was always the kind of guy that would understand things quickly,” Adams said. “Being able to convey a concept that people don’t get and make them understand is the best feeling.”

Adams teaches mainly biology 105 and 106, both lecture and online, but said that his favorite subject to teach is the 156 lab course because it is more hands-on and allows people to see things more closely.

Every day begins with a cup of coffee before going to work.

“Got to have my coffee,” Adams said.

Class usually lasts from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. After class is over, Adams spends a few hours in his office.

“During that time, I work on Blackboard, grades and then answer e-mails followed by more e-mails,” Adams said.

Adams said that the rest of his time is “splattered” with Facebook along with other things.

“I usually head out of here at about 2, and that’s where the fun begins,” Adams said.

Outside of the classroom, Adams occupies himself with a variety of activities.

“A long running joke of mine is that while people collect things for hobbies,” Adams said, “my hobby is collecting hobbies so that I always have something to do.”

Adams’ activities include, but are not limited to, fixing up old Volkswagen cars, playing music and, just recently, brewing his own beer.

“Being a biologist, mainly microbiology, beer making kind of sparked something for me,” Adams said. “My sister got me started in 2002 when she gave me one of those ‘Mr. Beer’ brewing kits.”

For the first few years, brewing was something that was “just fiddled with.”

“It’s actually become a pretty big project over the past five or six years,” Adams said. “I’ve been talking with a buddy of mine about getting some people together and starting a local brewery.”

One of Adams’ oldest hobbies is playing music. After playing drums in a metal band from Houma, he now plays in a zydeco rock band with some of his high school friends from Larose.

“The original idea was for me to play drums,” Adams said. “I recently acquired a Cajun accordion, and I’m trying to learn how to play that to see how it goes.”

Adams said that the band already has five original songs but does not plan to go very far.

“If something happens with it, that would be cool, but we all considered being just a fair band and play at things like the Swamp Stomp.” Adams said.

Every student who has taken one of Adams’ classes knows that he sometimes brings his pets to class. Adams owns three snakes, three cats and two bearded dragons. He also keeps a wooden cage in his office that once held his pet iguana.

“He got sick and died right before the semester started,” Adams said. “I actually made the cage, so woodworking is another hobby that I’ve started with.”

The cage houses several potted plants and a few turtles that, according to Adams, “just chill.”

“Now I’m probably going to just let the plants take over,” Adams said. “I may get a couple of chameleons later on.”

Although he is a teacher now, Adams said that he plans to eventually get his doctorate degree.

“I’ve tossed it around a few times, but it just hasn’t happened yet,” Adams said. “I consider myself a lifelong learner. It’s probably why I got into beer making and fixing old Volkswagens. I’ve never done either of them. I’m like a big sponge—always ready to learn something.”