Laura Passe

Laura Passe is a post-baccalaureate student from Naperville, IL completing educator licensure in secondary science.

Hometown: Naperville, IL

Year: Expected graduation: 2023

Major: Secondary science educator licensure program

What scholarships did you receive and why did you receive them? How has the financial support impacted your experience at NIU?
I am a recipient of the NIU Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Rosalie Reynolds Endowed Memorial Scholarship in Chemistry and the American Chemical Society (ACS) Hach Second Career Teacher Scholarship.

What did you want to be when you were growing up? Are you pursuing that as a major, or have you taken another path?
I am a polymer chemist by training with M.S. and B.S. degrees in chemistry. After 12-plus years in the coatings industry, I am making the leap to teaching.

What is your major (and/or minor) and why did you decide on this course of study?
I am a post-baccalaureate pursuing a secondary education license with endorsements in chemistry, physics and ESL. My passion is getting more diverse women (female-identifying) into STEM and supporting them once they get there. The current shortage of diverse voices in basic and applied research is evident by the make-up of volunteer participants in research studies, lack of medication efficacy data in populations other than European American males, and the disparities in health care found in low-income and underserved communities. I want to populate the scientific community with individuals who know they can make a change for the better. I decided that if I am serious about getting more women into STEM, a high school chemistry classroom is the place to do it.

What has been something you have found pleasantly surprising about your experience at NIU?
I am thoroughly impressed with the CLAS secondary science educator licensure program. The breadth and depth of the training will prepare me well for the classroom. The more I speak with students and early-career teachers from other universities about their educator programs, the more I am convinced I made the right call to attend NIU.

How have you connected with other students to study for classes, meet new people or form new friendships?
My secondary science cohort is a fantastic group of individuals. We collaborate on assignments, practice our teaching techniques and generally keep an eye on each other.

Who has been one of your favorite instructors/professors and why? What course did they teach?
Professors are like children: we are not supposed to pick favorites. To give only one name, I would say Mr. Paul Fix. He has been with me on my NIU journey, guiding me through enrollment, helping me register for classes and navigating the convoluted computer coding system that tries to thwart the unsuspecting post-baccalaureate. The man is tenacious. 

How have you benefited by attending class regularly?
Attending class regularly allowed me to get to know my professors and for them to get to know me. The connections we formed opened a wealth of opportunities I would not otherwise know existed.

Where is your favorite spot on campus or in the community? Why are you drawn to it?
Faraday Hall 129, Mr. Eads’ physics teaching lab, is my favorite location on campus. I have had so many classes there over the last two years that it feels like home. 

What advice would you give to a student who is applying to colleges?
My child is currently a senior in high school and is applying to college. My first piece of advice is to do your research and choose the right college for you. Try to separate your decision from what your friends are doing; what is right for them is not necessarily suitable for you. Second, introduce yourself to your professors during the first week of school. They want you to succeed. Give them the chance to help you.

What do you do to relax or recharge?
I love being outside in the sun. A 20-minute walk around the neighborhood is often enough to lift my mood and shift my perspective.