[2006 Leadership Profiles] Laurel Hansen

Dr. Laurel Hansen is one of those rare individuals who, despite evidence to the contrary, can honestly say she has not worked a day in her life. "That’s because I love what I do," she says. "I wake up every day excited to go to work." A natural-born educator, Hansen has spent the last 40 years honing her teaching skills, while sharing her passion for science and the environment with a generation of students at Spokane Falls Community College in Spokane, Wash., where she serves as a professor of biology. She also serves as an adjunct professor of entomology at Washington State University in Pullman, Wash.

Dr. Walter Spangenberg, retired professor of microbiology and biology at Spokane Falls Community College, immediately recognized Hansen’s love of teaching – not to mention her ability to relate to students – and hired her on the spot. "Laurel is successful because she’s interested in people," says Spangenberg. "She always puts the welfare of the students and the school first and that’s her greatest asset."

That wasn’t always the case, however. Laurel Hansen was raised on a wheat and dairy farm in eastern Washington, and says that agriculture was her first love. "Living on a farm, I had lots of opportunities to investigate nature, which led to my interest in science and insects," she says. "It was a typical family farm, not a large corporate farm like you see so often today."

Being the oldest of four girls, Hansen was recruited early to work on the farm, rising at the crack of dawn and working late into the night, tending the animals and crops and performing a variety of other daily tasks throughout the spring and summer. "Eighteen-hour work days were typical in the summer," she says. "My father always said there’s plenty of time to rest in the winter, although the work never stops on a dairy farm."

From an early age, Hansen was encouraged to succeed. Although she grew up in a time and place when women filled more traditional roles, her grandfather, August Reinbold, always supported her desire to pursue an education. "We could sit down and have good conversations about politics, science, farming, or conservation. He encouraged me to pick something I wanted to do and excel at it." With only an eighth-grade education, Reinbold was the first recipient of the Soil Conservation Award in the state of Washington.

With the support of her parents and grandparents, Hansen was the first person in her family to earn a college degree. She attended Pacific Lutheran University, 300 miles from home. Because of her interest in science, she thought about pursuing a career in medicine; however, everything changed when she met and married a farmer from Davenport, Wash., while away at college. "I changed my goals in life," says Hansen. "When I became engaged I decide to follow in the footsteps of my high school teacher and mentor, Ronald Barbee, and teach science. It allowed me to combine my appreciation of agriculture with my love of science."

After earning her undergraduate degree, Hansen began her teaching career at a local junior high school, where she honed her skills before deciding to pursue a Master’s of Science degree in entomology at Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., with the ultimate goal of teaching college students. It was there she met one of the most important influences in her life, Dr. Roger Akre, who would play a key role in her introduction to the pest management industry. Akre, an accomplished author, shared Hansen’s love of nature, becoming a mentor to the young graduate student. Hansen began teaching at the community college in 1968 where she taught biology and zoology, as well as general pesticide certification classes for agricultural, ornamental and structural pests.

Inspired by Akre, Hansen returned to school and earned her Ph.D. in 1985 from Washington State University, eventually joining Spokane Falls Community College, where she taught biology and zoology, as well as general pesticide certification classes for both agricultural and structural pests. "Roger was a hymenopteran specialist who was well connected in the pest control industry," she says. "It was while I was working with him that I became interested in structural pests. I thought this was really interesting stuff."

Akre was one of many people who inspired Hansen throughout her career. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be." Hansen always possessed natural teaching ability, but she also had great role models and mentors along the way. At every school she attended, someone saw something special in her – a devoted student and a natural-born teacher. Hansen says of her mentors, "They were all just excellent educators who really cared about their students." They inspired her to inspire others.

NOTED AUTHOR

One person who inspired Hansen is Dr. Roger Akre. When Akre encouraged Hansen to get her Ph.D., it was he who suggested she work with ants. Hansen remembers, "I was planning to work on termites but he suggested carpenter ants and I’m glad he did." Being a carpenter ant expert, Hansen co-wrote a book on the subject with Akre, sending it to Cornell University where it sat on a reviewer’s desk for two years. "It wasn’t very good," Hansen admits now.

After the manuscript was returned, it took Hansen another two years before she could even look at the reviewer’s comments. By that time, Akre had passed away so she re-wrote the book from scratch with Dr. John Klotz of the University of California, Riverside. The book, "Carpenter Ants of the United States and Canada," was published in 2005 and has yet to receive any negative reviews.

Klotz and Hansen have another page-turner due to hit bookshelves soon – "Household Ants of the United States and Europe." The rough draft is currently at Cornell University and promises to be another valuable addition to the pest control marketplace.

LOOKING AHEAD

Some may find it regrettable that Hansen – a well-educated, frequently published, highly recognized professor – has spent 40 years teaching at a community college. But not Hansen. She loves her life. "I can’t see an end to it. I’ve enjoyed all my years at the community college. I could have worked at a major college but really, why leave? I enjoy working at Spokane Falls Community College and I love living in Davenport, Washington. I couldn’t ask for anything more."

Hansen and her husband, Marvin, were married for 35 years. They have two children and two grandchildren. Hansen says that family is very important to her. "I’m very close to my kids. My son and daughter-in-law live two miles away and we enjoy farming activities. I also enjoy a number of activities with my daughter and her family," she says. In summing up her distinguished career, a career spanning nearly four decades, she says, "I’m a mother first, a teacher second and a researcher third – in that order."

The Ultimate Carpenter Ant Book

"Carpenter Ants of the United States and Canada," co-authored by Dr. Laurel Hansen of Spokane Falls Community College and John Klotz of the University of California, Riverside, thoroughly covers the ecology, morphology, and life history of this common structural pest, making it a valuable addition to any PMP’s technical library.

"Laurel D. Hansen and John H. Klotz have put together a book that contains a wealth of information on the bionomics of the carpenter ants of the U.S. and Canada and the way these ants have become adapted to the structures of man," says Dr. Gary Bennett of Purdue University. "This book, the first of its kind, will be most useful to all who are concerned with the study and management of these pests."

Adds Stoy Hedges of Terminix International, "Carpenter Ants of the United States and Canada" is well written and thorough in its description of the biology of Camponotus species. It will serve as an excellent source of information on these important ants for both pest management professionals and those researching this genus." To learn more about the book, visit www.pctonline.com.

Dr. Laurel Hansen is one of those rare individuals who, despite evidence to the contrary, can honestly say she has not worked a day in her life. "That’s because I love what I do," she says. "I wake up every day excited to go to work." A natural-born educator, Hansen has spent the last 40 years honing her teaching skills, while sharing her passion for science and the environment with a generation of students at Spokane Falls Community College in Spokane, Wash., where she serves as a professor of biology. She also serves as an adjunct professor of entomology at Washington State University in Pullman, Wash.

Dr. Walter Spangenberg, retired professor of microbiology and biology at Spokane Falls Community College, immediately recognized Hansen’s love of teaching – not to mention her ability to relate to students – and hired her on the spot. "Laurel is successful because she’s interested in people," says Spangenberg. "She always puts the welfare of the students and the school first and that’s her greatest asset."

That wasn’t always the case, however. Laurel Hansen was raised on a wheat and dairy farm in eastern Washington, and says that agriculture was her first love. "Living on a farm, I had lots of opportunities to investigate nature, which led to my interest in science and insects," she says. "It was a typical family farm, not a large corporate farm like you see so often today."

Being the oldest of four girls, Hansen was recruited early to work on the farm, rising at the crack of dawn and working late into the night, tending the animals and crops and performing a variety of other daily tasks throughout the spring and summer. "Eighteen-hour work days were typical in the summer," she says. "My father always said there’s plenty of time to rest in the winter, although the work never stops on a dairy farm."

From an early age, Hansen was encouraged to succeed. Although she grew up in a time and place when women filled more traditional roles, her grandfather, August Reinbold, always supported her desire to pursue an education. "We could sit down and have good conversations about politics, science, farming, or conservation. He encouraged me to pick something I wanted to do and excel at it." With only an eighth-grade education, Reinbold was the first recipient of the Soil Conservation Award in the state of Washington.

With the support of her parents and grandparents, Hansen was the first person in her family to earn a college degree. She attended Pacific Lutheran University, 300 miles from home. Because of her interest in science, she thought about pursuing a career in medicine; however, everything changed when she met and married a farmer from Davenport, Wash., while away at college. "I changed my goals in life," says Hansen. "When I became engaged I decide to follow in the footsteps of my high school teacher and mentor, Ronald Barbee, and teach science. It allowed me to combine my appreciation of agriculture with my love of science."

After earning her undergraduate degree, Hansen began her teaching career at a local junior high school, where she honed her skills before deciding to pursue a Master’s of Science degree in entomology at Washington State University in Pullman, Wash., with the ultimate goal of teaching college students. It was there she met one of the most important influences in her life, Dr. Roger Akre, who would play a key role in her introduction to the pest management industry. Akre, an accomplished author, shared Hansen’s love of nature, becoming a mentor to the young graduate student. Hansen began teaching at the community college in 1968 where she taught biology and zoology, as well as general pesticide certification classes for agricultural, ornamental and structural pests.

Inspired by Akre, Hansen returned to school and earned her Ph.D. in 1985 from Washington State University, eventually joining Spokane Falls Community College, where she taught biology and zoology, as well as general pesticide certification classes for both agricultural and structural pests. "Roger was a hymenopteran specialist who was well connected in the pest control industry," she says. "It was while I was working with him that I became interested in structural pests. I thought this was really interesting stuff."

Akre was one of many people who inspired Hansen throughout her career. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "Our chief want is someone who will inspire us to be what we know we could be." Hansen always possessed natural teaching ability, but she also had great role models and mentors along the way. At every school she attended, someone saw something special in her – a devoted student and a natural-born teacher. Hansen says of her mentors, "They were all just excellent educators who really cared about their students." They inspired her to inspire others.

NOTED AUTHOR

One person who inspired Hansen is Dr. Roger Akre. When Akre encouraged Hansen to get her Ph.D., it was he who suggested she work with ants. Hansen remembers, "I was planning to work on termites but he suggested carpenter ants and I’m glad he did." Being a carpenter ant expert, Hansen co-wrote a book on the subject with Akre, sending it to Cornell University where it sat on a reviewer’s desk for two years. "It wasn’t very good," Hansen admits now.

After the manuscript was returned, it took Hansen another two years before she could even look at the reviewer’s comments. By that time, Akre had passed away so she re-wrote the book from scratch with Dr. John Klotz of the University of California, Riverside. The book, "Carpenter Ants of the United States and Canada," was published in 2005 and has yet to receive any negative reviews.

Klotz and Hansen have another page-turner due to hit bookshelves soon – "Household Ants of the United States and Europe." The rough draft is currently at Cornell University and promises to be another valuable addition to the pest control marketplace.

LOOKING AHEAD

Some may find it regrettable that Hansen – a well-educated, frequently published, highly recognized professor – has spent 40 years teaching at a community college. But not Hansen. She loves her life. "I can’t see an end to it. I’ve enjoyed all my years at the community college. I could have worked at a major college but really, why leave? I enjoy working at Spokane Falls Community College and I love living in Davenport, Washington. I couldn’t ask for anything more."

Hansen and her husband, Marvin, were married for 35 years. They have two children and two grandchildren. Hansen says that family is very important to her. "I’m very close to my kids. My son and daughter-in-law live two miles away and we enjoy farming activities. I also enjoy a number of activities with my daughter and her family," she says. In summing up her distinguished career, a career spanning nearly four decades, she says, "I’m a mother first, a teacher second and a researcher third – in that order."

-------------------------------------------------------

The Ultimate Carpenter Ant Book

"Carpenter Ants of the United States and Canada," co-authored by Dr. Laurel Hansen of Spokane Falls Community College and John Klotz of the University of California, Riverside, thoroughly covers the ecology, morphology, and life history of this common structural pest, making it a valuable addition to any PMP’s technical library.

"Laurel D. Hansen and John H. Klotz have put together a book that contains a wealth of information on the bionomics of the carpenter ants of the U.S. and Canada and the way these ants have become adapted to the structures of man," says Dr. Gary Bennett of Purdue University. "This book, the first of its kind, will be most useful to all who are concerned with the study and management of these pests."

Adds Stoy Hedges of Terminix International, "Carpenter Ants of the United States and Canada" is well written and thorough in its description of the biology of Camponotus species. It will serve as an excellent source of information on these important ants for both pest management professionals and those researching this genus." To learn more about the book, visit www.pctonline.com.

-------------------------------------------------------

Spreading the Word About Insects

In addition to her work as a college educator, Dr. Laurel Hansen has a hand in teaching elementary school children how to appreciate the insects that live among us. She wrote a 60-page manual, "Insects in the Curriculum" that is used in the Spokane School District that instructs teachers how to use insects in the classroom.

"I wrote the manual because most kids love bugs but most teachers don’t know much about them or how to use them as teaching tools," she says. "However, once you get them started, both the teachers and the students love working with them." Hansen feels that if her input helps to nurture a love of science in just one or two kids, then her efforts will have paid off.

Spreading the Word  About Insects

In addition to her work as a college educator, Dr. Laurel Hansen has a hand in teaching elementary school children how to appreciate the insects that live among us. She wrote a 60-page manual, "Insects in the Curriculum" that is used in the Spokane School District that instructs teachers how to use insects in the classroom.

"I wrote the manual because most kids love bugs but most teachers don’t know much about them or how to use them as teaching tools," she says. "However, once you get them started, both the teachers and the students love working with them." Hansen feels that if her input helps to nurture a love of science in just one or two kids, then her efforts will have paid off.