Lincoln Land Community College has welcomed plenty of new staff members this year, one being the English department’s Laurenn York.  

Raised in the south suburbs of Chicago, York’s passion for teaching was inspired by her frequent trips to her mother’s classroom. York got her bachelor’s degree in English Education from Eastern Illinois University and moved on to teach high school at Lockport East High School. Although York enjoyed getting to know the students, teaching in the high school environment wasn’t the best for her. 

York decided to further her education by getting her master’s degree at Illinois State University, where she focused on Rhetoric and Composition. While at ISU York interned at Heartland Community College in Bloomington-Normal, falling in love with the diversity and culture that community colleges provide.

York commutes from her home in Bloomington daily, she lives with her husband, one-year-old daughter and Megatron, their Cocker Spaniel.

Professor York wants her students to know that she’s passionate, hardworking, organized, student-centered, and tries to be laid back. Anyone who takes her class can expect York to be engaging with all of her students, while she expects to receive the same level of engagement.

York is no stranger to working with students one-on-one. She wants her students to never hesitate to reach out to her even after the semester is over, because she understands the importance of tracking growth continuously over a lifetime.