Title: Instructor

Company: College of Lake County

Location: Waukengan, Ill.

Drawing upon a 30-year background in information technology, Jane Pickens brings dedication and experience to her role as instructor for College of Lake County. For 12 years, she was a senior manager for TAP Pharmaceuticals Inc., where she honed her abilities in building, leading and retaining high performance information technology teams. She currently brings these abilities to the academic sector and teaches various courses for the computer information technology program, preparing students for career entry and development. Ms. Pickens also furthers her involvement with academia as an adjunct instructor for Columbia College of Missouri, a position she has held for 21 years.

Ms. Pickens prides herself on excellent leadership, communication and problem solving skills with a strong focus on customer and employee satisfaction. Educationally-seasoned, she holds a Master of Science from Illinois Institute of Technology, along with a master’s degree in secondary education and a Bachelor of Arts from SUNY Albany. Her significant academic and professional credentials have earned her respect from her peers in the information technology industry, and she hopes to encourage her students to pursue similarly nuanced careers by providing for them an engaging learning experience.

Ms. Pickens is a member of the Association for Computing Machinery, through which she keeps abreast of field-related advancements. She also supports various charities, including Habitat for Humanity as well as organizations for paralyzed veterans and Alzheimer’s research. In her free time, Ms. Pickens enjoys pixel art, beading and other crafts.