The upcoming issue of The Bridge features our five full-time science professors. All are smart, capable women who teach classes ranging from anatomy/physiology to zoology and everything in between, preparing students for success as they begin their educational journeys.
Here’s more about these dynamic women:
Biology professor Kristy Boggs has a passion for nature and was working in a river research lab in 1999 when she got the opportunity to teach part-time at the SRC Havana Center. She discovered a new love for SRC and for teaching, and became full-time at the Macomb Campus in 2005.
Kristy wants her students to learn and understand the material while developing critical thinking and coping skills, and she enjoys watching them grow and achieve their goals. She credits the freedom to teach creatively and to adjust and use a variety of methods to meet the needs of each student to make that happen. “I design my classes to empower students with control of their circumstances, getting out of class what they put into it. Standards are set forth at the start of each semester, and my role is to guide, mentor, and cheer them on while they work to be successful in meeting or exceeding those standards.” Kristy, who earned her B.S. and M.S. at WIU, was the recipient of the 2017 ICCTA Outstanding Full Faculty Award Nominee.
Biology professor Amy Rutledge dreamed of being a doctor, but said, “What I am now has come from an evolution of experiences and opportunities, not what I was planning for.” A marine biology class in high school introduced her to the world of aquatic biology and she continued that path while at SIU where she earned a B.S. in Zoology with a minor in Environmental Science, followed by a M.S. in Zoology Science. After graduate school, she had the opportunity to work as an aquatic biologist for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. While she loved the field work, she didn’t love the extensive time away from home. She began teaching part-time at Spoon River College in 2012, and became full-time two years later. Looking back, she wouldn’t change anything about her career path, and would like to pursue a doctorate in the future. A committed environmentalist, Amy said, “I love opening students’ eyes to the natural world around us. If people don’t see how amazing it is, they are not likely to try and protect it.”
Chemistry professor Bridget Loftus was sure about her career choice as a forensic scientist until her senior year of undergraduate school when she realized how much she had enjoyed being a tutor in high school and during her time at Carroll University, where she earned a B.S. before attending the University of Oregon to complete her M.S.
A fan of small schools, Bridget said, “They have always been a part of me,” and it’s one the things she likes most about Spoon River College. “I started teaching at Spoon in 2014 and I’ve never looked back.” She advises students to trust their instructors even when they
don’t immediately see the reason for a specific task, and “to follow directions. It seems simple but is really important in school and in life.” In 2022, Bridget was honored as the 2022 ICCTA Outstanding Full-Time Faculty Member Award Nominee.
Biology professor Kim Gillespie’s love of learning began at her local community college in northern Illinois, where as a first-generation college student she was highly motivated to keep going for the next degree. After completing her associate degree, she transferred to WIU and earned a B.S. and M.S. in biology.
She realized her love for biology—specifically in parasites in fish—in grad school. “I dissected more than 200 bluegill and counted each of their parasites. I’m big on dissections, so A&P is perfect for me.” Grad school is also where decided on a teaching career. When she was hired as an adjunct instructor by Spoon River College and experienced being able to create her own lessons and lead her own class for the first time, she was certain of her path, and in 2023 was hired full-time.
“The students here are the best. I love watching them experience ‘aha’ moments, and learning about their college and career plans.”
Physics professor Alison Roxburgh was born in Florida, grew up in the UK, and moved back to Florida where she earned a B.S in Physics with a concentration Astrophysics at the UNF before earning her M.S. in Physics and her Ph.D in Applied Physics from the UCCS. Her graduate research was in the field of theoretical magnonics, the manipulation of spin wave properties in magnetic materials. Her decision to study physics was made after reading the history of physics to pass the time on a train ride in London.
“Physics and astronomy have always been fascinating to me, and one of the most wonderful feelings is watching others begin to understand it and fall in love with it too. Witnessing the moment where someone finally grasps a difficult concept, or seeing their face light up at an astronomy viewing, is a gift that I’m grateful to experience in teaching.”
A teaching assistant while in grad school, Alison knew she wanted to continue to teach college level courses, and she joined SRC in 2025. She looks forward to hosting public astronomy pop-up events in SRC communities.