Faces of SCCO
MBKU Honors the Service of Retiring Assistant Dean of Admissions, Dr. Jane Ann Munroe
We invite you to join us in honoring Dr. Munroe who will retire as the Assistant Dean of Admissions for SCCO at the end of May 2022.
Dr. Munroe has lead SCCO Admissions for 15 years, and she has been instrumental in the optometric journeys of thousands of future optometry students and current optometrists during that time. Whether you’re one of the fortunate who was able to hear her present in person, or you’re from one of the 200 countries and territories who have read her articles on this blog, you’ve no doubt been blessed by her wisdom and heart.
While Dr. Munroe will certainly be missed, she’s excited to be passing the reigns to me, Eryn Kraning. I have been learning from Dr. Munroe now for over 10 years. On June 1, 2022, I will assume the role as head of SCCO Admissions with the title, Senior Director of the Office of Admissions. I am excited to carry on Dr. Munroe’s legacy of care and attention for prospective students as SCCO continues to admit phenomenal future alumni who will impact their communities just as Dr. Munroe has done.
To read more about Dr. Munroe’s amazing career and life, click here to read the full story.
“It’s been such a privilege to have helped so many of you along the way into optometry’s ranks. Serving in SCCO Admissions has been a final chapter in a career that started in 1977 when I graduated from SCCO. Thank you all for being such a wonderful community and so kind to me.” Jane Ann Munroe, OD
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Categories: Faces of SCCO, Spotlights
Tagged as: Dr. Jane Ann Munroe, eryn kraning, Eryn Kraning SCCO, Jane Ann Munroe retiring, marshall b ketchum, marshall b ketchum university, mbku, optometry admissions, optometry school admissions, scco, southern california college of optometry
Published by Eryn Kraning, Senior Director of the Office of Admissions, SCCO
I have a confession to make… I never wanted to be an Optometrist. (Gasp.) I also never wanted to be a doctor, or a nurse, or anything else that might have to deal with blood or icky things. Why? Because if you show me a scab, or a picture of a “cool” injury, or even just tell me about something gruesome, I’ll pass out. Literally. It’s called a vasal vagal response, and it’s my cross to bear.
I knew I wasn’t cut out for healthcare pretty early on in life. In second grade I saw Paul McCarthy flip his eyelids inside out and I fainted on the playground, so I thought about other options. Teacher? Nope, not patient enough to handle a class all day long. Missionary? Nope, I hate bug bites. Airline Stewardess? Nope, don’t like lifting luggage. (As you can see, my thought process was extremely thorough.) I knew I wanted to help people, but with no clear career direction as I entered college, I went “undeclared” for as long as I possibly could, and threw myself into volunteer activities and community service. During my 4 years of undergrad, I volunteered at homeless shelters, tutored at juvenile detention camps, mentored teens, studied abroad in Italy, babysat, went on a mission trip to Amsterdam, ran a marathon, and worked about 5 different jobs, just to name a few. I walked away from Pepperdine University in 2006 with a Liberal Arts degree, a zillion fun stories, a bunch of student loans, and still no clue as to what I wanted to do with my life.
So I got on a boat. (Did she just say she got on a boat?) Affirmative. One day while visiting a boat show with my dad I was approached about the possibility of being a stewardess on yachts. I had no idea what that meant, but as soon as I heard the boat was going to Costa Rica, I signed on the dotted line and was gone. For the next 18 months, I lived and worked aboard the Motor Yacht Sojourn, catering to wealthy clients as we explored Costa Rica, Mexico, Canada, Alaska, the Panama Canal, Florida and the Bahamas. My Jack-of-all-Trades degree came in handy as I found myself coordinating itineraries, planning events, driving a 130’ boat, cooking for guests and crew and dealing with some of the most interesting people I’ve ever met. The experience was amazing, but it just delayed the inevitable. I got back on land and still had no idea what I wanted to do. Default to Eryn-mode… I volunteered again, this time for a church. I bounced from high school ministry working with teens to the missions department working with people all over the world. I also went to grad school for half a year, started my own wedding coordination business, and got certified to be a personal trainer. With interests in helping others, coordinating events, leading my peers and working with young people, I’d narrowed down my passions to something in education, specifically Admissions.
My resume was quite “colorful” by the time I joined the SCCO Admissions Department. Turns out, colorful was just what they were looking for. Some people (aka my parents) call my journey “random.” I would rather think it as the perfect training for my job here as the Director of Admissions at SCCO. I love what I do, because I love helping people. In all the occupations and experiences that have led me this far, I’ve been blessed to work alongside and encourage people from all walks of life. Now I get to walk alongside you. I love working with sharp students who want to make a difference in the world and do something I cannot- work on the frontline of healthcare. I’m honored to advise you on how to be a competitive applicant, or to give you a campus tour, or strategize on how to raise your GPA, but as a “Vasal Vagaler,” I leave the health care providing to you.
View all posts by Eryn Kraning, Senior Director of the Office of Admissions, SCCO
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