Millennium Magazine_2ndEd

444 MILLENNIUM-SECOND EDITION SPECIAL EDUCATION DIAGNOSTICIAN (RETIRED), ART TEACHER (RETIRED), ATHLETE Tucson Unified School District Tucson, AZ I nterested in education since her formative years, Joy Ann Dyer- Raffler was encouraged by her father to become a teacher and found that it was a natural fit for her skill set. Having taught in the Tucson Unified School District for her entire career, she recently served as an exceptional education teacher for two years, retiring in 2005. Prior to this role, she was a diagnostician in special education for 14 years, a special education teacher for 14 years, and an art educator for five years. Certified in special education, learning disabilities, emotionally handicapped education and art education, Ms. Dyer-Raffler holds a BA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as an MEd in secondary education and MEd in special education from the University of Arizona. She was a grantee of the Tucson Unified School District in 1977 and is affiliated with the Arizona Education Association. Widow to the late John William Raffler Sr. and mother of one, Ms. Dyer-Raffler enjoys painting, skiing, bird-watching and playing tennis in her spare time. She is also a former competitive tennis player and former member of a high-ranking girls’ team. JOY ANN DYER-RAFFLER RESEARCH SCIENTIST California Department of Health Care Services Berkeley, CA F or over four decades, Thelma Dunnebacke has dedicated her life to scientific research. To prepare for her career, she earned a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and PhD from Washington University. Dr. Dunnebacke utilized the knowledge she gained from her education to become a research scientist at the University of California, Berkeley virus laboratory, where she served for 22 years. Her experience allowed her to obtain a similar position at the California Department of Health Care Services’ Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory in 1976. A species of free-living amoeba (Naegleria dunnebackei) has been named after her, which is one of her career highlights. In addition to being affiliated with many organizations in her field, Dr. Dunnebacke earned a grant from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation. She considers herself lucky to be able to still have fun in her role at her age and feels blessed by her family history and children. Dr. Dunnebacke is extremely proud of her three children and husband, who continuously support her in anything she chooses to do. THELMA DUNNEBACKE, PHD