Articles

HCC professor makes chemistry feel like home

By Dwight Daniels

Aug 6, 2025

When the doors for registration open, Dr. Laura Jakubowski’s Houston Community College (HCC) chemistry classes fill up in a hurry. That’s because students who share intel on professors know what to expect: an educator who treats students warmly, listens closely to their questions and finds creative ways to make even the most complex concepts click.

“I’ve always loved chemistry,” Dr. Jakubowski said. “It’s been my passion, and what I love even more is watching students realize they can love it, too.”

Her teaching philosophy rests on accessibility, helping students by avoiding the use of ponderous lab manuals and potentially hazardous chemicals. She has designed experiments using common household materials like vinegar, baking soda and dish detergent to encourage chemical discoveries at less cost for sometimes cash-strapped students.

This innovative approach proved especially invaluable in 2020 when the world shifted to virtual learning as a pandemic hit. Faced with the challenge of teaching labs online, Dr. Jakubowski created a full “green” chemistry course. She sought experiments that were safe, sustainable and low-cost. She also created videos, simulations and an entire Canvas course template that she later generously shared with colleagues.

“I want to do all I can to ensure that my students keep learning and feel connected to science,” said the native Texan and chemistry graduate of Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, Texas, who earned her Ph.D. in chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pa. “When I see their faces light up and they get it, I know I’m succeeding.”

Since the pandemic ended, her creative efforts have only deepened. She has added to the innovations she uses in her General and Organic Chemistry classes and labs and still employs video demonstrations that encourage students to write their own procedures rather than follow regimented or rote requirements.

“That fosters critical thinking and makes students feel more like active participants in their labs,” said the professor, the daughter of a chemistry teacher.

Dr. Jakubowski began teaching at HCC as an adjunct professor before being asked to join in a full-time capacity.

For her students, the professor’s teaching style and affability are motivational and welcoming. At the oft-consulted online rating site, Rate My Professors, where students can anonymously rank their instructors, Dr. Jakubowski holds a whopping rank of 4.9 out of 5. Reviews are peppered with tags like “caring,” “amazing lectures,” “gives honest feedback,” “clear grading criteria” and “respected.”

“Her passion for teaching brought out the best in me as a student,” said Gayathri Prasad, an HCC biology major. “Even on days when I was exhausted from other classes, she kept us actively engaged in the material she was covering and created positive experiences. To me, she created the perfect example of a healthy learning environment.”

Inspired by her science studies at HCC, Prasad hopes to earn her associate degree and continue her academic journey to apply to dental school and become a practicing dentist.

“I get such a sense of satisfaction to see students like Gayathri succeed and set big goals for themselves,” Dr. Jakubowski said. “It’s amazing to me to see what HCC students can do.”

The professor’s impact goes beyond her own college, soon to be known as Houston City College with the addition of bachelor’s degrees. She is collaborating with faculty members at four-year institutions like the University of Houston to help create and implement video-based procedures for chemistry labs.

“What makes Laura special is that she loves teaching and cares about her students who can be intimidated by the subject she teaches,” said Dr. Grace Zoorob, HCC Chemistry Department chair. “Students encounter a very pleasant and empathetic person who wants to see them succeed.”

For her efforts, Dr. Jakubowski won a 2025 NISOD (National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development) Excellence Award, a national honor bestowed for remarkable contributions toward student success and for strengthening a culture of academic excellence. The award is presented annually to a select group of top community college faculty members.

Dr. Jakubowski resides in Sugar Land with her husband, Dr. Wojciech Jakubowski, a senior scientist at the energy services firm Baker Hughes, whom she met while they studied at Carnegie Mellon and worked within the lab of renowned professor, Dr. Krzysztof Matyjaszewski.

The couple has two sons, Jacob,11, and Lucas, 9, who love science and playing with slime. This summer the boys have sometimes served as Guinea pigs for chemistry experiments that their mom can use later in her HCC classes.

“They’re like little sponges. And, what works well with them, usually works in the classroom or lab,” the professor said with a chuckle.

To learn more about HCC’s Chemistry Department and its curriculum, visit hccs.edu/chemistry.