John Poelma
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College recognized the 2010 Instructors of the Year at the Alumni/Foundation Spring Reception on Tuesday, April 6, at the Jackson County Campus in Gautier. This year’s honorees are John Poelma, Technical Department chair and Electronics Technology instructor at the Jackson County Campus; Chris DeDual, Developmental Studies Department chair and a developmental math instructor at the Jefferson Davis Campus; and Laurie Taft McIlrath, psychology instructor at the Perkinston Campus.
Since 1971, Gulf Coast students, faculty, administrators and college organizations have nominated outstanding instructors for the prestigious Instructor of the Year awards. The three instructors chosen are selected based on their academic excellence, dedication and professionalism both inside and outside the classroom. The honorees were presented resolutions from the Mississippi legislature and awarded $1,000 from the MGCCC Foundation for use in their respective instructional areas.
John Poelma, currently a first sergeant in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, has more than 26 years of military service. He began teaching electronics while in the Air Force and, in 1997, he began his career at Gulf Coast. Currently working on his doctorate in adult education at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM), Poelma received Associate of Applied Science degrees in electronics systems technology, education and training management, and instructor of technology and military science from the Community College of the Air Force. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Park College in Missouri and his Master of Science degree in technology education from USM. An active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in D’Iberville, Poelma is also active in the Knights of Columbus in D’Iberville, is the technical and lighting designer/adviser at Biloxi Little Theater, and is a volunteer at Center Stage Theater in Biloxi.
Chris DeDual, a Gulf Coast alumnus, is currently working on his doctorate in science and math education at The University of Southern Mississippi. He also belongs to several professional organizations, including the Louisiana-Mississippi Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges, the National Association of Developmental Educators, the Mississippi Association of Developmental Educators and the National Academic Advising Association. He served as the sponsor for the campus Scholars Bowl Team and as host of the college’s High School Quiz Bowl Invitational. He is currently co-chair of the Early Alert Committee and is a member of the Retention Committee, Quality Improvement Committee for QEP, Distance Learning Advisory Committee, Assessment Proctoring Committee, and the Student Advisement System Development Team. He served as president of the Jefferson Davis Campus Faculty Association in 2006-2007 and is the faculty representative for the Jefferson Davis Campus Vice President’s Council.
Laurie Taft McIlrath has taught at the Perkinston Campus since 2002, but began teaching at the college in 1995. The Perkinston Campus was home to McIlrath, as both of her parents worked for the college. A Gulf Coast alumna, she received her Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from The University of Southern Mississippi and her Master of Science degree from Augusta State University in Georgia. She teaches general psychology, child psychology, and human growth and development. She is also active at the college, serving on various committees, including the campus Emergency Action Plan Immediate Team; SACS subcommittees for Academic Program Approval, Academic Program Coordinator Assignment and SLO Development; the Judicial Committee; and the Learning Resources Center Committee. She has also been a trainer for several Professional Development presentations.
