Dr. Jahn
Hi. I was born and raised in Philadelphia. After an undergraduate
degree in biology from Penn State and a masters in teaching from
Widener, I joined the Peace Corps and served as a teacher-trainer
for two years. I think my teaching was enriched by my experiences
there, especially with regard to my appreciation of global ecological
problems. I married in Paraguay, and my family (total of 4) returns
there to visit as often as we can. After the Peace Corps, I received
my doctorate from Temple University, where I studied neurogenetics
in Drosophila. I have taught a wide range of courses at SUNY Orange
and in Philadelphia, including Genetics, Anatomy and Physiology I and
II, General Biology I and II, Prehistoric Life, Biology for Today,
Environmental Science, Human Biology, Microbiology, and Chemistry. I
love to be in the classroom, where my classes and I perform a variety
of activities as diverse as DNA fingerprinting, the study of actual human brains, the analysis of the most primitive fish
alive today, discussions on the ethical implications of genetic engineering and the role of genes in human behavior,
simulations of physiological processes (which may include the use of paper cutouts of DNA nucleotides or monster
masks in our discussion of immune function), and the singing of the Endocrine Song. At school, I am especially
interested in genetics, the brain, evolution, and the history of scientific thought. At home, I unwind with my family and
enjoy hiking, canoeing, and playing guitar.