Little Apple Times

Faculty Spotlight: Jamie Van Gieson

Dr. Jamie Van Gieson teaches College Biology, Microbiology, and Environmental Science at HCC. She enjoys studying and researching topics related to genetics, viruses, and how microbes can affect our lives and health. Jamie attended York College in York, Nebraska where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. She earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of North Dakota. Her graduate research involved evaluating a gene that may be a useful biomarker for arsenic or cadmium-induced cancers.

This is Jamie’s second year teaching at Highland Community College. Sharon Kibbe, Vice President for Academic Affairs, feels Dr. Van Gieson is a great addition to the science faculty. “Her dedication to student understanding and success is evident in her daily interactions with HCC students and colleagues.” Jamie genuinely enjoys thoughtful discussions with students when they come to understand how course material is related to or can impact their lives.

One of her favorite things about teaching is being able to witness those moments when students realize how much they have accomplished. She acknowledges, “the things that are the most worth doing are the things that don’t come easy – they take hard work and perseverance to accomplish but are often the most rewarding.” She hopes that students see how much she is rooting for them to succeed in both their classes and their lives.

When not in the classroom, Jamie likes to go camping or hiking when she can. She recommends Helen Czerski’s book “Storm in a Teacup: The Physics of Everyday Life” for those who are interested in how the things we see around us every day, such as coffee stains and fridge magnets, are associated with basic principles of physics and chemistry.

Original source can be found here