After nearly two decades at Laurel Ridge Community College, Biology Professor Jan McLaughlin is putting away her microscopes and needles. Throughout the course of her teaching career, she has taught Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Phlebotomy, Medical Terminology and Human Diseases and Pharmacology.
Professor McLaughlin took a circuitous route to the college. After earning her bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts – Painting from the University of Illinois, she worked at art galleries in San Francisco and Orange County, California.
Later, Professor McLaughlin earned her doctor of chiropractic from Life University, and had a practice in California for about eight years.
She did some teaching in California before moving to Maryland and teaching for Kaplan University, now Purdue Global. She earned her master’s degree in Health Education from Kaplan.
While teaching full time for Kaplan, Professor McLaughlin was approached about coming to work at Laurel Ridge, which was an appealing offer.
“I had heard through the grapevine it was a good deal, so I took it,” she said.
After starting as an adjunct, Professor McLaughlin has worked full time at Laurel Ridge for about 16½ years.
Her favorite part of her job was “always the students.”
“They’re just so joyous,” she said. “The fact that they’re working on their life and goals, and we’re helping them achieve those things and they’re so sincere in all that makes my work fulfilling. I’ll miss them very much. I also enjoy the people I work with. We plan to stay in touch.”
Her favorite part of her job was “always the students.” Jan McLaughlin is in the center of this faculty group photo.
Another thing Professor McLaughlin said she would miss is the regimen of being a professor.
“You have to try to establish your own routine, and I will miss the schedule, the semester,” she said.
Professor McLaughlin’s retirement plans include traveling, spending time with family and enjoying her hobbies.
“I garden like crazy,” she said, adding she and Professor Emerita Brenda Wiens established the pollinator garden beside the pond on the Middletown Campus. “I also fancy myself a ‘handywoman’ around the house. I like to travel. I took Spanish classes here with Professor Polly Nesselrodt, who is an excellent teacher.”