2008 Most Influential Women Honoree: Tamera S. Jahnke

“It’s one of the better decisions I made,” says Jahnke, dean of the College of Natural and Applied Sciences at Missouri State University, where she began as an assistant professor in 1986.

Jahnke always had a mind for science, especially chemistry. Her big decision came during her first year in the chemistry doctorate program at University of Iowa, when she was also admitted to medical school. An accepted workaholic, Jahnke knows she chose the correct path, earning both a bachelor’s degree and her Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Iowa.

“I’m not sure I would have made the right choices for work-life balances had I gone to medical school,” she says. “I can walk away from grading papers. I’m not sure I could have walked away from patients.”

During her time at MSU, Jahnke has risen through the tenure ranks. She was both acting head and head of the chemistry department, and acting associate provost before assuming the dean’s position with the College of Natural and Applied Sciences in 2006.

One of Jahnke’s proudest achievements at MSU is Women in Science, a faculty group she organized in 1993.

“The physical sciences are not known for their gender diversity, so it was important for this group of women scientists to come together to learn from and support one another,” she says.

Jahnke then took the idea one step further.

“I suggested that in addition to this informal but vital support relationship amongst ourselves, we expand our mission to also support young women wishing to enter the sciences,” she says.

Expanding Your Horizons Conference at MSU began in 1994. The annual EYH event brings 200 middle-school girls to campus to learn from MSU students and faculty about careers in science, math, engineering and technology. Since its founding, EYH has exposed 2,000 youngsters to both MSU and science.

“It’s kind of one generation to the next, and we’re just trying to extend that,” Jahnke said.

The Women in Science group also has funded an endowed scholarship fund for students in the College of Natural and Applied Sciences.

Jahnke’s community involvement includes active participation at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, where she leads the confirmation program, and United Ministries for Higher Education, where she’s a the board member.

Name an influential woman, living or dead, you’d like to meet. Why?

Gertrude Elion, who shared the 1988 Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology with Sir James Black and George H. Hitchings for their discoveries of important principles for drug treatment. … I want to ask her about her education and the barriers that she faced, as she was never accepted into graduate school simply because she was a woman. I would also like to ask her about the Nobel Prize ceremony.

What advice do you have for young women just getting started professionally?

Find your passion and live it.

As a young girl, what were your career aspirations?

I wanted to be a doctor as I was growing up. Then in college, I discovered the joy of organic chemistry, (which) led to a passion to understand how drugs work and how to design new drugs.

What celebrity have others compared you to, or do you identify with?

I don’t know of any celebrity I have been compared to, or even of any I would aspire to be compared to!

Tell us about your family.

I have been married for 27 years to the most wonderful man in the world, my husband, Dave. We have two children; Sarah is a junior at Truman State University this fall, and Michael is a junior at Kickapoo High School. Dave became a stay-at-home dad after Sarah was born and he has been taking care of our home and our children ever since.

Web Exclusive: What off-the clock role does Tamera see as a calling?

She’s a certified lay minister and parish ministry associate at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. In that role, she leads worship services, teaches confirmation classes and has even presided at funerals. [[In-content Ad]]