Lauren Kent Math and Science Major Travels to Africa See her story on page 4

In the Spotlight
36 Years of Serving Students <strong>and</strong> the College
Dr. Joanna B. Chrzanowski, Distinguished Professor celebrates <strong>her</strong> 36th year teaching at
Jefferson Community College. The College wants <strong>to</strong> share some of <strong>her</strong> philosophy <strong>and</strong>
personal s<strong>to</strong>ries that make <strong>her</strong> the incredible teac<strong>her</strong> <strong>and</strong> student advocate she is.
Who do you consider your men<strong>to</strong>rs?
My fat<strong>her</strong> who was a chemist, superb administra<strong>to</strong>r <strong>and</strong> educa<strong>to</strong>r set the template
for how <strong>to</strong> treat people no matter what their circumstances. He was so
loved, respected <strong>and</strong> admired for his humanism that over 3000 mourners attended
his funeral <strong>and</strong> people I didn’t even know approached me <strong>to</strong> tell their
s<strong>to</strong>ries of how he helped them. My mot<strong>her</strong> who at 5’2” was the strongest
woman I ever met, working professionally as a his<strong>to</strong>ry teac<strong>her</strong> <strong>and</strong> raising
two children provided me with a successful working woman model.
Who most influenced your career?
My doc<strong>to</strong>ral men<strong>to</strong>r at Syracuse University, Dr. Joana Burstyn, who <strong>to</strong>ok
an interest <strong>and</strong> a chance on a part-time adult learner <strong>and</strong> guided me <strong>to</strong> a
successful completion of doc<strong>to</strong>rate. She showed me that I could be a successful
scholar as well as mot<strong>her</strong> <strong>and</strong> sustain a rewarding teaching career all
at the same time.
If you could travel anyw<strong>her</strong>e, what would be your destination?
I have travelled all over the world, but my destination of choice is always foremost
my native country w<strong>her</strong>e I was raised <strong>and</strong> educated, Pol<strong>and</strong>. T<strong>her</strong>e I feel like I
don’t st<strong>and</strong> out <strong>and</strong> don’t have <strong>to</strong> explain w<strong>her</strong>e I come from. I don’t have <strong>to</strong> say that
“I speak with an accent but I don’t think with an accent” because in my native <strong>to</strong>ngue I
don’t have an accent. That kind of anonymity <strong>and</strong> sense of belonging one can achieve only
in New York City w<strong>her</strong>e everyone is from someplace else.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
The students by far <strong>and</strong> the diversity of the students, especially after 1985 when with the Fort Drum expansion JCC’s student
body underwent a dramatic transformation bringing students <strong>to</strong> the College from all over the country. I love <strong>to</strong> watch students
learn, exp<strong>and</strong> their horizons, <strong>and</strong> focus their interests on a discipline <strong>to</strong> pursue. That growth makes me swell with pride for their
achievement.
What do you like most about JCC?
The College <strong>to</strong>ok a chance on me – a young, inexperienced teac<strong>her</strong> from a foreign country - at the time when the majority of faculty
were white males raised in the U.S. Regarding diversity, JCC was well ahead of ot<strong>her</strong> institutions <strong>and</strong> clearly was a trendsetter.
I built my career <strong>her</strong>e in an open-minded climate of true hig<strong>her</strong> education institution. I have been given opportunities <strong>to</strong> experiment
with innovative teaching strategies, push the envelope with technology, <strong>and</strong> engage students in diverse ways not practiced
before. I have been richly rewarded for my efforts.
What is something you consider unique about yourself that ot<strong>her</strong>s might not know or be surprised <strong>to</strong> learn?
Most people think I am an extrovert – but I am not. I just do a good facsimile of one. I am an introvert, intensely private about
most facets of my life. My teaching persona is vibrant because I think it is the best way <strong>to</strong> connect with my students <strong>and</strong> thus I
developed a teaching personality that successfully mimics an extrovert. It’s not an act; I truly have become more outgoing in the
process. People meeting me <strong>to</strong>day think I’ve always been like that.
Over your 36 years of teaching, what are you most proud of?
Many things of course but the SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professorship <strong>and</strong> SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching
are highlights. These are special <strong>to</strong> me because they reward teaching – which is my passion. I am also proud that I completed
my doc<strong>to</strong>ral degree which I started when my daughter was only two years old, while raising <strong>her</strong> <strong>and</strong> commuting daily 124 miles
<strong>to</strong> <strong>and</strong> from JCC, attending night classes at Syracuse University, <strong>and</strong> working full time at JCC. I have compassion for many of my
students who are doing the same.
Dr. Chrzanowski, professor of English, first joined Jefferson in 1980. She holds both a bachelor of arts in English <strong>and</strong> a master of
arts in English Education from SUNY Albany as well as a doc<strong>to</strong>rate of philosophy in Instructional Design, Development <strong>and</strong> Evaluation,
from Syracuse University. In 2004, she received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching <strong>and</strong> in 2014 she
was bes<strong>to</strong>wed the rank of SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professorship.