Barbara Derflinger’s professional journey both started and ended with Laurel Ridge Community College.
A lab and research specialist at the college since June 2022, she is retiring at the end of 2024. But, her trajectory at the college started nearly 40 years ago.
“My background starts here in 1988-90 when I was a student here,” said Derflinger.
Growing up on a dairy farm outside Mt. Jackson, she initially thought she would become a large animal veterinarian, until leaning more towards science. After graduating from Stonewall Jackson High School, Derflinger enrolled at Laurel Ridge.
“I was really involved in student life,” she said. “I greatly enjoyed the opportunities I had here.”
In addition to serving on the Student Government Association, Derflinger was a Student Ambassador and a member of Phi Theta Kappa, an honor society for two-year colleges. After her 1990 graduation from Laurel Ridge with a science degree, Derflinger transferred to James Madison University, where she majored in both biology and medical laboratory technology, while minoring in chemistry.
After a brief period as a clinical laboratory scientist, Derflinger then worked as a science teacher at Central High School for 27 years, mostly teaching chemistry and physics. She would go on to earn master’s degrees in education and in anatomy and physiology instruction.
“I reconnected with Laurel Ridge when I started teaching dual-enrollment anatomy and physiology,” said Derflinger, adding she spent a semester as an adjunct at the college, too. “I liked it. I enjoyed working with faculty. It’s a great place to work.”
After retiring from her teaching career, Derflinger was looking to continue working in education.
“I was excited to find that Laurel Ridge had an opening as a lab and research specialist,” she said. “Coming from teaching high school science, I was very comfortable with the behind-the-scenes work of prepping labs. The added bonus was that I got to come back to a place where my higher education started.”
While she will enjoy spending more time being actively involved in her community and with her grandchildren, Derflinger will particularly miss working with the science faculty.
“Laurel Ridge has always had a fond spot in my heart,” she said. “When I was teaching, I would encourage my students to consider coming here for many reasons – it’s more cost effective, and it’s more of a one-on-one environment. I got a really great education here, so I encouraged them to come here as well.”
And, Laurel Ridge will miss Derflinger, too.
“Barbara has made huge improvements with lab inventory and organization, bringing a level of order and efficiency that has been a game changer for us,” said Dr. Ia Gomez, dean of science, integrated technology, engineering and math. “Beyond all the hands-on work, Barbara has been an incredible support for our faculty and students, and she has also built strong relationships with her peers. Her dedication and willingness to help have been invaluable, and she’s always been a pleasure to work with. Barbara’s contributions have had such a positive long-lasting impact, that it’s hard to imagine our labs without her.”
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.