by Kiana Velez
May 3, 2024

THE PROFESSOR WHO LEFT A LEGACY
This article is dedicated to Mrs. Lauren Paisley who is an amazing professor and person who has worked extremely hard for the path she chose and has inspired many students to follow their goals in life.

Mrs. Paisley was always interested in business. She started college at the University at Buffalo, but after her first year she didn’t feel comfortable with her skills, and she changed her degree to medical technology. After working as a medial technologist her confidence went back up and she decided to go back to school and get her business degree (MBA). She worked for Waste Management and enjoyed engaging with other people, so teaching was a natural extension along with her passion for learning which was ignited by her mother.

Mrs. Paisley fell in love with GCC the minute she walked in. The people were very friendly, the school was clean, and the environment refreshing. She has had so many memorable experiences. She won two SUNY Chancellor’s Awards — one for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities and one for Excellence in Faculty Service. These awards were incredibly significant to her but most of all, she has enjoyed the connections with students. She has loved helping her students go on and be successful — those things are very meaningful to her.

Some advice that Mrs. Paisley gives to new students is to be open to opportunities and to be willing to step outside your comfort zone. “Everything I got in this life was because I was willing to put myself out there…If we only stay in our comfort zone, that’s the only place we are going to be and for some people that’s okay, but be willing to join a team, get on a committee, volunteer for something. Some people out of high school already know what they want to do in their life, but I did not know. There is a statistic out there that says the average American changes careers at least six times over their lifetime.” She liked her other jobs very much, and she’s thankful for the opportunity they gave her. Every experience gave her something new.

Mrs. Paisley kept her passion and enthusiasm for teaching throughout her career by generating her own passion every day. Every 15 weeks there is a start and a stop, then a fresh start, new people, new things going on in the world that you can talk about. Mrs. Paisley’s students have inspired her by watching them find themselves and getting out into the world. She always tries to challenge herself to be better and to always be real to her students. They are relatable to her and vice versa. She wants students to feel safe with her and the environment she brings to them, “That’s the learning, not the lecture.”

All of Mrs. Paisley’s life she has had plans and set goals for herself. “One thing I am going to do in retirement is I am NOT planning. I’d like to travel. I’d like to volunteer, join some organizations in Buffalo, spend time with my family, pick up some hobbies I’ve left behind.” The legacy Mrs. Paisley hopes to leave behind is everything that has to do with the students. Since the classes are small, she gets to know each student individually and gets to know a little something about them. It’s the impact Mrs. Paisley has given them that makes it a legacy. “It’s time for new blood and some new energy. I feel extremely healthy and have a good look on new things.”

Here’s what a few professors had to say about how Mrs. Paisley has changed their lives:

“The words that come to mind when I think of Lauren are kindness and friendship. Working with students, she organized a “Random Acts of Kindness” week at GCC with the slogan of “GCC, My kind of Place.” Lauren is encouraging to all and the best listener that I know.”
-Mrs. Conley

“She is really good at connecting with students. She has a great sense of humor, you never know when it is gonna hit! She is very student focused. She puts her heart and soul into it.”
–Dr. LaMattina

“Lauren has a unique perspective on different things that are happening, and she brings that enthusiasm in, and it’s hard to not become involved when she’s spearheading some of these things.”
-Mrs. Corke

“The joy that she has brought…always bringing sweets in…Kudos to a wonderful person.”
-Dr. LaMattina

“Thank you for being such a wonderful person and teacher. She just gave all to her students and to the college. She will be seriously missed.”
-Mrs. Corke

“She is the heart of the business program. I’ve been so fortunate to have her next to me for 15 years. We’ll miss her very much, but I know she’ll be my lifelong friend.”
-Mrs. Conley

Mrs. Paisley contributed to the Business Creators Club with Mrs. Conley, Mrs. Corke and Dr. LaMattina to create an apple cider syrup with the club members, develop the recipe and make it into a business. Mrs. Paisley produced the social media and marketing, and she worked with the IT faculty and Dr. LaMattina to push it through.

Thank you, Mrs. Paisley, for your 20+ years of hard work and dedication. Enjoy your retirement — you deserve it and so much more!