McDougall, ISU student-employment coordinator, moving on after 20 years

Idaho State University's coordinator of student employment, Jan McDougall, is retiring this month after nearly 20 years working at the University.

A retirement reception will be held for her from 3 to 5 p.m. Jan. 12 in the Bengal Café in the Pond Student Union Building.

“It’s been a wonderful career,” she said. “I always said I had the best job on campus.”

McDougall began her career at ISU in September 1986 in the Career and Planning and Placement Office and was promoted to director of student employment in 1987. She said her proudest accomplishments at ISU included writing the federal grant in 1988 that started University Students for Youth for three years. That project continues today as Student Community Services Center.

Also, 12 years ago she started the Student Employee of the Year award that recognizes student employees. The students are nominated by their on-campus supervisor for the Student of the Year Award. The top student receives a $2,000 scholarship and the runner-up receives the Jim and Arlene Lupher Scholarship valued at $500.

McDougall also started the Part-time Job Fair that is held at the beginning of the fall semester. The job fair attracts employers from on and off campus to recruit students for part-time jobs.  

“My philosophy is that students want to earn and learn while attending ISU,” she said. “I was diligent to encourage employers to advertise their job opportunities so that they could connect with ISU students.”

McDougall was an active member of the ISU Council of Professional Employees and served on its board. She was active in the ISU Professional Women’s organization and active in the ISU Women’s Club. In 2000, she chaired the ISU Women’s Club Holiday Fair.

Before her career at ISU, she served on the Pocatello School Board as a trustee. She was employed by the American Red Cross and served as a disaster caseworker two days after Hurricane Camille hit the Louisiana and Mississippi coasts in 1969. McDougall also worked at the University of Utah library, Tulsa City-County Library and Pocatello Public Library.

Her husband, Dan, retired three years ago from the State of Idaho Court system.  The couple has two children. In retirement she says she plans to play doubles tennis, become active in the local and state AARP organization, and participate in the  ISU New Knowledge Adventures.