Jennifer Merlic

Professor

“The teachers at SMC are so accessible. And students really ought to take advantage of that opportunity while they’ve got it.”

Jennifer Merlic, chemist, had a very unusual beginning on her way to a PhD in her field. “My first major in college was equestrian studies. I wanted to train show horses. But without the right amount of money, it’s not the most practical career.” She reports no regrets about her decision to go into science and now—in her second year at SMC—she says, “I like the diversity of my students and my colleagues. And I’m very happy to be involved in teaching instead of just doing research.”

Jennifer says she was pleasantly surprised to find so many people returning to school at SMC. “I really enjoy my older students because they’re extremely motivated and they know exactly why they’re here,” she says. “It’s a real added pleasure to have them in my class.” She says that it’s a great time to be teaching the sciences because of all the innovation going on. “There’s a lot of high technology that’s exciting to talk with students about. Something like STM—the technique where they actually get to see atoms and the neat colors of molecules—is something students have never seen before. And when you talk about a chemical like AZT and the effect it has on the HIV virus, you can hear a pin drop.” But Jennifer insists that the real “magic” of teaching only comes from thorough preparation and an absolute commitment to being a teacher.

“What I want my students to feel is that science is interesting and fun. I have so many people who just assume it’s going to be horrible drudgery, boring and hard. And they’re shocked when they see me because I’m female and young. People have actually walked into my office and said, ‘Oops. Sorry. I through Dr. Merlic was going to be in here.’”

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