Melissa Jones isn’t just an instructor at Bryan University, she’s a driving force behind the success of our pharmacy technician students. She’s a passionate and experienced educator who goes above and beyond to teach her students in creative ways while embracing challenges along the way.
“When I started pharmacy it just clicked, and there’s so many opportunities in this field. You could never be bored or dull,” she said.
Melissa became a pharmacy technician nearly 25 years ago and worked as a pharmacy technician in a hospital for 10 years. She knew she always loved teaching, after previously working as a kindergarten teacher, so when she got the first opportunity to teach as a pharmacy technician, she jumped at it.
“I know I’m a teacher. I know that’s my calling. I know that’s my purpose. I know that’s what I’m here to do. So, I gotta do it, and because I love what I do, it’s really not work at all.”
She started teaching in 2010, then the next year she became the lead instructor at Virginia College. During her time there she helped get the pharmacy program accredited by ASHP and became the program director, which she did for 13 years.
A few years ago she retired from that position and returned to teaching while also pursuing her PhD in psychology. She’s been teaching at Bryan University since, coming up on three years in November.
“What I love about Bryan University are my teammates and my manager; she’s excellent. But I love the students the most,” she said. “I’m just grateful to have an opportunity to share my gift of teaching with students who come from all types of different backgrounds, age groups, walks of life. I think that’s what I love most about Bryan University, and being an educator here, is that I have that opportunity to connect with so many people and touch lives.”
Melissa said she loves that at BU she has the academic freedom to teach creatively and is given the opportunity to improve and grow. She said teaching pharmacology is something that has challenged her throughout her career because it’s not only hard to learn but harder to teach.
“To be an effective teacher of that subject has even been more difficult, because I always have to think of creative ways to help it stick to them,” she said. “I always tell my students: Listen, this is not something that you’re going to master, ever. You’re gonna get good at it, but I’m 25 years into my field, and I’m just now really good at it. But I’m not a master of it, because there’s always a new drug being approved on the market. There’s always a recall. There’s always something new and profound about pharmacy.”
She says being a teacher keeps her motivated because she knows it’s what she’s meant to do.
“When people do what they’re supposed to be doing, when you’re in alignment with your purpose and your calling in life, there’s a motivation in my heart to do it and give it my best because this is my purpose. This is my call.”
She wishes more people understood the importance of being accurate as a pharmacy technician. She referred to Emily’s Law, which was passed in 2009 in Ohio and established stricter requirements and regulations for pharmacy technicians. The law is named after Emily Jerry, a 2-year-old who died from an accidental overdose of sodium chloride after she was given an IV bag with the wrong percentage of the solution.
“As a technician, you have to know when it’s time to be perfect, and that’s in the pharmacy. You have to know that it’s okay to not be perfect in your personal life because life isn’t about being perfect. But when you hit the pharmacy, that’s what it’s about for those eight hours that you’re working, and that’s kind of hard to juggle sometimes.”
Outside of work, she’s coming up on the dissertation phase for her PhD later this year. Her focus is on Alzheimer’s and a curriculum to retain memory through social learning.
She also enjoys writing outside of work, and aspires to write children’s books one day. She also loves painting, drawing, and acting. Most people would be surprised to learn she’s a background actor in films they might have watched on Netflix!
She also loves dolphins and even adopted one. She said they’re amazing animals who are extremely intelligent.
One thing she always wanted to learn is more about the technical side of computers and to become a computer guru.
When asked what she can’t live without, she said music — especially gospel music. “I can’t live without music, and I don’t know why, but I think it’s healing for us in some type of way.”
She’s also passionate about the nonprofit Charity Water, which helps build water wells to give people access to clean water. She came across an ad for it one day and was moved to donate, and in the last year her contributions have helped 13 families gain access to clean water.
Her advice to anyone just starting their career is: “Be sure to understand that the field that you’ve chosen, whatever it is you’ve chosen to do is something that you could possibly be doing for the rest of your life,” she said. “Continue to improve yourself, continue to study, continue to grow, and embrace all of the challenges that come, because learning can be a challenge for anyone.”
Beyond career advice, she encourages everyone to, “learn to love yourself 100% and know that you are worthy of a beautiful life.”
The Bryan University Employee Spotlight is an initiative that recognizes employees monthly. All employees of Bryan University are eligible. Learn more about Careers at Bryan University.
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