CSU-Pueblo Names Dr. Janna McLean Interim Dean of CSM

Dr. Janna McLean recently accepted the position of interim dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, at CSU-Pueblo, for the 2007-2008 school year. McLean, who came to CSU-Pueblo in 2003, was previously the associate professor and Chair of the Department of Biology.

McLean grew up in Michigan and attended two colleges in order to attain her degrees and doctorate. She went to Hope College in Holland, Mich., and received her B.A. in biology with a minor in English. She then went to graduate school at Carnegie Mellon University, in Pittsburgh, Pa., where she received her Ph.D. in biological sciences.

After attaining her degrees, McLean did some postdoctoral work at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, in Madison, Wis. She then decided that teaching was something that she was passionate about. McLean wanted to be a professor and got a job at Truman State University, in Kirksville, Mo., where she taught biology, did research for nine years and was the biology department chair for three years.

McLean, now the new interim dean, has many different job responsibilities that she’s required to fulfill. She works with the chairs of different departments, making sure things are running smoothly and helping solve any problems that may surface. McLean also uses strategic planning to address long-term issues that are important to the college.

McLean has now been in Pueblo for four years and says that she enjoys the diversity, small town flavor and community interaction the city has to offer. She is married with two sons, one of whom she and two undergraduate students are currently working with on a research project about fruit flies.

McLean said that after she’s done with her position at CSU-Pueblo, she would enjoy a job where she could think broadly about an institution, much like what she’s doing now.

When asked to sum up her feelings about her new position and CSU-Pueblo, McLean said, “I like what I’m doing, I like Pueblo and I’m just happy to be here!”

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