Dr. Norman-McKay is a scientist, full-time professor and successful author. With a baccalaureate degree in microbiology and cell science, and a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology she has a vast amount of knowledge. And for the past 17 years, the professor has shared her understanding with undergraduate health students at Florida State College. She was recently recognised by peers and students with the Outstanding Faculty Award.
Always ask questions
There’s never been a time in Dr. Norman-McKay’s life where science hasn’t been her focus. From a young age she was always questioning and always curious about the biological world. One of her first experiments (aged 7) was to see how long it took for tadpoles to transform into frogs. “I could’ve gone to the library to find the answer, but my grandmother said I should try to figure it out for myself,” recalls the professor. “I placed a bucket with at least fifty tadpoles inside my grandmother’s house. She was really surprised to come home to a room full of tiny frogs!”
The professor’s curious nature has been present throughout her whole career – from her experiences as an undergraduate researcher to her PhD and beyond. Today, Dr. Norman-McKay is interested in the most pressing areas of microbiology – subjects like emerging infectious diseases, rapid diagnostics, and new vaccines. And she knows how important education and new ways of learning are to these growing fields, as it will help to shape future healthcare workers and their crucial work.
“Education is a transformative pursuit – it changes how one thinks and how one views the world. I view education as a path toward deep appreciation of the human experience.”
We share the professor’s belief that learners today have access to more information than ever before. It gives students the chance to understand a broad range of perspectives and enhances their understanding of the biological world – both crucial to solving some of the most complicated problems humanity faces. “The increased availability of interdisciplinary programs is a great asset for today’s students,” says the professor. “It represents an opportunity to bridge gaps in theory and application to come up with unique solutions.”
Dr Norman-McKay and Pearson
Over the years, Pearson has collaborated with the professor on educational texts, resources and talks. In fact, Dr Norman-McKay told us one of her proudest moments was holding her published textbook for the first time. “Pearson is a company that is dedicated to developing the best educational products on the market,” says Dr Norman-McKay. It’s a design and development process in which we consult the professor and her wider peers to help create the best resources we can. “I see my work with Pearson as a partnership toward transformative teaching and learning,” she continues. “As a microbiology author I appreciate Pearson’s support of my vision to bring employable training to the healthcare team of tomorrow.”
/sites/pearson-corp/files/pearson/our-products-and-services/authors/lourdes-norman-mckay-headshot.jpg Biological Sciences Professor at Florida State College, Jacksonville Author Showcase Off