Linda and Christopher Gaylo of West Windsor were honored at Mercer College’s James Kerney recent campus celebration of achievement night at the Trenton War Memorial. A science faculty member at Mercer College for 18 years, Linda Gaylo was an adjunct instructor for 10 years, then a teaching assistant, and has been full-time faculty member for the last four years. She also enlisted her husband, an engineering consultant, to join her at the Trenton campus as an adjunct instructor.
According to Linda, there is a different vibe at the Kerney campus than at the far larger West Windsor campus. “It’s a more intimate environment and classes are small,” she says. “There is much more opportunity for contact with students.” She teaches chemistry, anatomy 1 and 2, and biology concepts. “I am very accessible and I like it,” she says noting that her office is centrally located on campus. “At any point in the day, students can always find me.”
Her students come from varied backgrounds and span all ages, from those entering college directly from high school to many who have been out of school for years, including state workers. Gaylo says they are all similarly focused on college as a gateway to a better future.
“Being in the city, these students don’t have easy access to the West Windsor campus and are very appreciative of being able to take courses close to home,” Gaylo explains. “We have expanded the number of science classes we offer there and students like that.”
Following his day job in engineering, Chris teaches concepts of physical science in the evenings and is also involved with Mercer’s Upward Bound high school enrichment program. “It’s a personal challenge to revisit this material and to be able to convey concepts in a way that students can understand,” he says. Generally he is teaching non-science majors — “those who traditionally shy away from the subject. Sometimes they are apprehensive coming in,” he says. “This is especially true for adults who haven’t studied science or technology in many years. I strive to engage them.”
Chris integrates interactive labs, video clips, and real world examples into his classes. “Often it starts with a few students who join in and then others become more involved,” he says. “I offer bonus points if someone points out a technical error. They find that great sport and it keeps them paying attention.”
The Gaylo family has lived in West Windsor since 1988. Linda received a bachelor’s degree in medical technology from Russell Sage College and a master’s degree in medical biology from C.W. Post at Long Island University. Chris received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a master’s degree in the same field from NYU Polytechnic. He is a registered professional engineer.
Their son, Andrew, graduated from High School South in 2002 and from Clarkson University in 2006. He is a computer engineer in Boulder, Colorado, where he designs power electronics for hybrid electric vehicles. Their son, Ryan, graduated from South in 2005 and from Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He is a mechanical engineer with Michelin NA in Greenville, South Carolina, where he designs and analyzes next-generation tire models. He is married to Melissa Hickman Gaylo, who also works at Michelin.
“Students are really eager to learn,” says Chris, who remembers what it was like when he pursued his master’s degree part-time in the evening while working full time during the day. “They are making a real commitment to getting their degrees.”
The couple believes that their overlapping subject matter is a win-win for them and their students. “If I am having trouble getting a point across, I will brainstorm with Linda,” Chris says. “The challenge is to rethink a complicated concept that is simple for me. We try things out on each other.”
“It’s been terrific teaching at JKC, where students are eager to learn and see college as the way they are going to advance in their careers and their lives,” says Linda. “We try to make a difference for them.”
She adds that without the community college, some simply would not be able to further their education. “JKC does it all — helping students earn their GEDs, then move into college, and possibly transfer on to a four-year school. It’s a beautiful progression,” she says.
