Deadlines end as career ends for Lynch
By Sunny Tunget
IV Leader Staff
| Effective May 10, 2002, deadlines
will not matter for journalism instructor and IV Leader advisor Dr. Rose Marie Lynch.
After 32 years of service at IVCC, Lynch will be retiring at the end of this school year.
Humanities and Fine Arts Division Chair Giacomo Leone said, “I’m really sorry to see she’s retiring...but I’m glad for her and we’re certainly going to miss her. She’s been a real contributor to the college.” |
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Lynch joined the IVCC faculty in the fall of 1970 when the college was still located on the east campus. Before coming to IVCC, she was an instructor at Olney Central College in Olney, Ill, and also at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.
Lynch earned her bachelors and masters in English from Indiana State University at Terre Haute, Ind. and her Ph.D. in English from Ball State University at Muncie, Ind.
The commitment and desire to achieve her doctorate came at the urging of her mother.“My mother pushed me to get a good education so I could have a better life than she and my father...both the children of immigrants had. She made school so important to me that I never left.”
Besides being an active member of the teaching faculty at IVCC, she is also active in many community organizations.
Lynch has been a member of the LaSalle-Peru High School Board of Education since 1985 and served as president for two years. She has also been president of the Illinois Valley Food Pantry since 1988 and a member since 1986.
In addition, she is also a member of the American Federation of Teachers, Local #1810, co-leader of the IVCC Tech Prep Team, co-editor of the NCA Self-Study Report in 1998, Evaluator for the Tech Prep Evaluation System for Illinois in the Illinois Eastern Tech Prep Consortium of 2001 and an NCA Visiting Committee Member in 1991 and 1993.
This month, Lynch received the 2002 Woman of the Year Award presented for her dedication and commitment to IVCC’s media.
She also has proved to be more than just another instructor for many of her journalism students - she has become a friend and a great influence.
“Doc has provided such a positive influence on the staff of the IV Leader and her students,” said IV Leader Editor Brooke Fisher. “She gives up a lot of her free time for her job especially with the newspaper.”
In addition to being a positive influence, Lynch is also someone that former students can count on when they need a shoulder to lean on.
“She has been so wonderful and a great person,” said former editor and IVCC Public Information Office intern Holli Rapp. “She was great after my car accident and is someone that I will always look up to. She has become such a positive role model for me.."
In 1999, Lynch was named the Illinois Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
Other awards she has received include the Illinois State Board of Education Connections 2000 Award in 1999 and 1993, Illinois Community College Trustees Association Outstanding Faculty Member in 1994, Illinois Valley Community College Merit Award in 1993, and Regional Office of Education Board of Education Service Award.
“She’s made a big imprint in a lot of people’s lives,” Leone said.
IVCC College President Dr. Jean Goodnow said, “Rosie (Lynch) is a true IVCC legend. Her talent and enthusiasm as advisor to the student newspaper inspired the careers of dozens of successful journalists. I am thrilled that Rosie will continue to teach and work here on a part-time basis.”
Lynch is married to Norm Clark of Peru and has two step-sons Scott and Brad Clark.
In addition to her husband and step-children, she also has a hobby that includes taking care of her two dogs, Molly and Muffin. Other hobbies include playing tennis, and gardening.
Lynch will remain at IVCC as a part time faculty member and will be honored with a dinner on April 27 at the Eagles Lodge in Peru.
