Alumni
Profile: Jan Dillard, 76G 82G
Jan Dillard has had an interesting journey since she began her relationship with Emory as a Graduate Student in the MAT program in the mid-70’s. After teaching at an Atlanta area High School, Jan decided to come back to Emory to pursue a Ph.D. in Political Science. After obtaining her Ph.D. in 1982, her professional journey ended up being, as she puts it, “somewhat like a sail boat crossing a great lake”.
When Jan left Emory she planned to write environmental position papers for a public affairs office of a corporation but ended up going to work for an environment consulting firm instead. Sadly the government’s focus shifted away from environmental concerns and she “caught a different wind.” She then learned computer programming – a career change that brought her to a decade-long relationship with Delta Airlines. Using some of her educational and political writing background, she became an internal technology planner at Delta, learned project management, and the importance of structured approaches to developing technology, and ended up owning her own project management company.
Now, more than two decades from her days as an Emory Graduate Student, Jan delivers project management education in places as far reaching a Lagos, Nigeria and Accra, Ghana. Jan’s journey was possible because of the strong foundation of her Emory education. From her experiences at Emory She learned how important it is to remain flexible, keep learning and to go wherever the wind takes you.
“…The world changes. You change. I am so proud to be an Emory Alumna, to come from such a global perspective, contributing to important issues of our culture and world.”
During Jan’s time as a student at Emory she was not involved in many campus activities or leadership positions as she spent most of her time in the library. “My focus was strictly my studies. However, I formed wonderful relationships with faculty members and fellow students which also served to extend my education through fabulous discussions.” My professors were not only outstanding thinkers, but they were actively involved. There’s no better example than the work of Dr. Eleanor Main. Her legacy lives on through the Challenges and Champions program.” Just one example of the impact faculty and students can have on a place like Emory.
Now, however, Jan is a very involved Emory alumna and so proud to be part of the Emory community.
Jan’s alumni involvement began as an active financial supporter. She then became involved with My House, a project of Donna Carson and the School of Pediatrics. From there, she became a member of the Emory Board of Governors (now known as the Emory Alumni Board) and sat on that board for two years. It was this association that expanded Jan’s understanding of Emory’s reach beyond its alumni community and illustrated the impact Emory has not just locally but throughout the world. Jan has also become energized by the work of the Mind and Life spiritual community.
“I’m quite proud of Emory’s involvement in the larger community – Georgia, the US, and the world. I was never very religious in my early adulthood. However, as I see the sharing being done across many disciplines, across many countries, I am inspired that the Emory community can literally change the world. I believe our world is a better place by the things that are being done at Emory.”
Some of Emory’s initiatives that Jan is most proud of include The Emory-Tibet Partnership, Emory’s new perspectives on religious and spiritual practices in our daily lives through the Mind and Life Institute - a powerful working collaboration and research partnership between modern science and Buddhism. Jan is excited about the Ph.D. program in Theology and Emory’s Sustainability program. “Emory is not just advocating what should be done regarding sustainability, but is actually doing it.” Medical Research, the relationship with the Carter Center and the focus on peaceful practices and making them a reality are also initiatives that Jan is passionate about and proud of Emory’s role in these areas of study and advancement.
Although Jan doesn’t know where the wind will take her next, Emory is so very lucky that her journey brought her back to our community. Thanks to active involvement and support from alumni such as Jan, the Emory Graduate School continues to grow and provide the opportunities for our students to set their course for an exciting adventure.