Angela Doermann, a proud alumna of Illinois Valley Community College, is now imparting her expertise as a CNA instructor at the same institution that set her on her professional path. Her story is a testament to the vital role community colleges play in lifelong learning and career advancement. In honor of National Community College Month, IVCC is hosting a series of events to spotlight its diverse educational programs and their impact on personal and professional growth. For more information, visit ivcc.edu and discover how community colleges can be a springboard to new opportunities and success.
Doermann’s journey is a testament of the power of community colleges in transforming lives. She wanted to share her passion for caring for people. “All my life I have always cared for family members and always had a passion for taking care of people. I really enjoy the medical field, helping figure out what is wrong and helping them to get better.”
Nursing also runs in the family, and several cousins work in the profession — including Amber Robertson, an IVCC nursing instructor. “The women in my family are strong-willed personalities who want to succeed in a career and are passionate about caring.”
Throughout her nursing career, she had worked in local hospitals and sheltered workshop settings, but also enjoyed being a school nurse at a junior high. “I love the school setting! There ’is just something about working there,” she said.
Before then, she had been a stay-at-home mom to her four children, a period she still treasures. “I was fortunate to spend that time with my kids. I did all the wonderful fun things stay-at-home moms get to do!” As her children grew, she enrolled in nursing prerequisite classes at IVCC. “Being an older student going to school was a challenge,” she recalled.
Studies competed with her children’s athletic schedules and a family crisis as her mother became ill. “I spent many nights in the intensive care unit with my mom, studying, or sitting in the outfield at my boys’ games with books, studying.”
Doermann enjoys building relationships with her students. “You go in as an instructor, but you turn into a mentor. And you never know, you might meet them again as a co-worker. My instructors at IVCC left an impression, and I want to carry that on. I’m excited to be part of someone’s successful career!”
You can find out more about these events at ivcc.edu or about community colleges by visiting the Illinois Community College Board website at https://www.iccb.org/system-information/.
