Greenville College Annual Report 2001-02

Campus Profiles

Women in Science: Integrating Theory and Practice

The Greenville College Science Division has recently welcomed two dynamic women to its staff. These two professors, Arlene Larabee and Karlene Johnson, bring many years of experience to the department in both classroom knowledge and practical experience.

Dr. Arlene Larabee, associate professor of Physics, came to Greenville College in 2001 with nearly 30 years of varied experience in Physics and Chemistry. She earned a B.S. in Honors Physics and Chemistry in 1976 followed by a Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics in 1984 both from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

Larabee is also well published with 24 refereed publications in physics journals and 17 conference presentations printed in refereed conference proceedings.

From time to time throughout her education, Larabee worked as a teaching assistant or seasonal lecturer but remained primarily in research positions until 1989. By this time, she realized that she loved spending time in the classroom and interacting with students so she accepted a position at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, IA. From there she went to Hope College in Holland, MI, for a year and then took a full-time position as an assistant professor of Physics at the University of Texas at El Paso in 1996.

After 5 years at UTEP, Larabee decided she wanted to find a college a little closer to home. She began looking for a new position and found Greenville College. While a devoted Christian, she had never worked for a Christian institution before, feeling called to be a Christian on a secular campus. But, after searching Greenville’s website and visiting campus, she new this was where God wanted her. She liked the idea of working on a Christian campus but had to be in a place where “people aren’t afraid of considering and searching new ideals but still hold them to the Bible.” She has found this at Greenville.

Larabee brings a vast amount of knowledge to the classroom and not only about Science. She has also studied Philosophy, English, Sociology and many other subjects. She challenges students to integrate the scientific knowledge gained in her classes into all areas of life. “We live in a technology-based world,” she reminds her students. “Regardless of your profession, you will see the value of a basic understanding of science.” Larabee also firmly believes that knowledge makes anyone a better citizen. "Students need to leave college understanding all fields so they at least know how to choose a good advisor on any given subject.”

When asked about the challenges of being a woman in science, Larabee claims that while it has never really held her back, she does realize that “the standards of productivity have been set by how men interact.” She did have to adjust the way she interacts in order to compete with the more aggressive, competitive nature of men with which she worked. “A woman in science truly has a career she makes for herself,” Larabee declares.

Karlene Johnson, Greenville College Math/Science Education coordinator, helps her students take the theories and ideals from the classroom and apply them through Science and Math Education. While the Education Department officially claims her, Johnson’s office is in Snyder Hall where she serves as a “crossover” faculty member in the Math/Science Departments. “I serve as a bit of a liaison between the Education Department and the program coordinators for Physics Education, Chemistry Education and Biology Education,” she says.

The road Johnson followed to her current position winds across three continents creating a wealth of knowledge and experience. “I became extremely interested in science when I was in early high school. I had begun to gain confidence in myself academically and I was very curious!  I wanted to know what causes hiccups and those headaches you get when you eat ice cream…” Johnson chose to attend Greenville College for her B.A. in Pre-Med but during an interterm practicum as a “doctor’s shadow” she changed her mind, desiring more interaction with “patients,” and decided to go into Science Education instead.

After graduation, Johnson spent two years teaching at the high school she graduated from in Iowa and then taught at a boarding school in England for two years. This was followed by two and a half years at the Atlanta International School where she taught in the International Baccalaureate program. Next she managed the National Science-Technology Roadshow in New Zealand for two years.She also earned her master’s degree at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, Australia, which has the largest graduate science education program in the world. “These experiences have given me a broader perspective and have exposed me to alternative models of science education,” she says.

Following many years of world travel Johnson decided to move closer to family and came back to the Greenville area just as the Education Department was looking for someone to do adjunct work for Secondary Science Methods. She taught one course as an adjunct for two years and then applied for, and received, a full-time position.

Of her work with education students in Science and Math Methods, Johnson says, “I hope to pass on my passion for using strategies that cause students to grapple with concepts and make sense out of them. I want them to integrate their own beliefs about how children learn with research from the field as they develop their own philosophy of education and think about what their ‘teaching style’ will be. I want them to move beyond imitating the strategies that they have experienced as a student and to consider ‘Is that the best strategy?’ ‘Why do I think so?’ ‘Are there strategies that could be more effective in helping my students gain the conceptual understanding they need?’”

The efforts of both of these women are making the Greenville College Science Division stronger than ever both in the knowledge gained in a classroom and its practical application.

Last updated: January 16, 2003