Biography
Jan's relationship with the game of golf began at age 5 when her father, Warren, cut down an old 7-iron and showed her the grip. She enrolled in the Lansing Publinx (public links) program and grew up playing and competing on the City of Lansing municipal courses of Red Cedar, Sycamore, Waverly and Groesbeck.
Jan was captain of the very first Waverly High School (Lansing, Michigan) girls golf team in 1979 and went on to play collegiate golf for Coach Mary Fossum on the Michigan State University Women's Golf Team from 1980-1984.
A proud Spartan, she uses her College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Park and Recreation Resources, Golf Course Design degree to provide unique perspectives on course management and how to negotiate the course.
Jan has been the Site Director of LPGA-USGA Girls Golf of Mid-Michigan, a developmental golf program for girls, since 2006.
In 2007 Jan was asked to develop and teach an MSU Education Abroad program at the home of golf at the University of St. Andrews in St. Andrews, Scotland. The program started as a non-credit golf experience that included links style shot making blended with classroom lectures on how to use golf in business. The education abroad program was so well received by students, the College of Business asked her to create and teach a 3-credit elective class (BUS 491) on how to use golf in business.
Jan joined the faculty in the MSU Broad College of Business and the first BUS 491 Using Golf in Business class was offered fall semester 2009. The one-of-a-kind class taught the intricacies of business golf including USGA rules and golf etiquette; the many forms of business golf; developing a business golf strategy; how to be a good business golf host and guest; business golf conversation strategies; interpreting body language; behavioral psychology elements found in business golf; cultural; international; gender; ethical and generational considerations of business golf and most importantly; BUSINESS GOLF etiquette. BUS 491 was offered until spring semester 2018 when the College of Business eliminated most BUS acronym classes and moved them to different departments.
In fall semester 2018, portions of Using Golf in Business transitioned to a 3-credit specialized elective, HB 420 The Business of Golf in The School of Hospitality Business.
In addition to HB 420, Jan developed and is teaching two new courses; HB 425 Golf Operations and Management and HB 203 Hospitality Communication.