Mary Janushka, Biology professor and accomplished athlete

            She’s a biology teacher, an athlete, someone who has traveled overseas in the name of science-just who is Mary Janushka?

            Mary Janushka has been at Anoka-Ramsey Community College for 22 years.  Her first 10 years were spent at the Coon Rapids campus and she’s been at the Cambridge campus for the last 12 years.  Janushka hasn’t always been a teacher however.

            “I didn’t know what I wanted to do after high school, but I did know that I always really liked biology. So I pursued that.”  Before long she had her master’s degree in human physiology.  Research entered Janushka’s life in graduate school.  She conducted electron microscopy research on walleye eyes, analyzing how structure related to function. She even went overseas to Cheju, South Korea to conduct research on plants for a brief time.  Janushka enjoyed research and figuring out results, but the work was monotonous and began to bore her.

            Janushka enjoyed being a teacher’s assistant in college for biology and chemistry so she pursued teaching.  “I got my teaching certificate and came to Anoka-Ramsey,” Janushka said with a smile.

            Teaching isn’t the only thing that occupies Janushka’s time.  Some students have referred to her as “Iron Woman,” because of her athletic abilities.  “I do triathlons, I’ve only done a half iron man triathlon before,” Janushka blushed and appeared shy after being questioned about this nickname.  One triathlon that Janushka participated in consisted of 1.5 mi. run, followed by a 56 mi. bike, and then finishes with a 13 mi. run.  Janushka became interested in triathlons when her sister suggested them to her since she already is a regular jogger.  Now they do triathlons together. 

            Janushka is the primary instructor responsible for taking students to the annual Nobel Conference at Gustavus Adolphus in St. Peter, Minn.  She has been there 10 times with students and says she’s enjoyed every conference, but her favorite topic was immunology. 

            Mary Janushka is currently teaching Seminar in Biological Science and Anatomy and Physiology this semester at the Cambridge Anoka-Ramsey campus.