Office Space: Jillian Janicki

Jillian Janicki, director of the phlebotomy program, always knew she wanted to work in the medical field. Knowing that her social battery was limited, she knew being a doctor or a nurse was out. She found being a lab technician was the best fit. “I get to work with patients a little bit at a time, then head to the lab to focus,” Janicki said. 

While she has been the director for two years, she spent a lot of time at Elgin Community College as a student receiving an associate degree in science and another in applied science. “ECC feels like home,” she said. 

Coming from a big Polish family, she recalls how everyone would sit down and watch old monster movies together. “I have a loud family, but when one of those movies would come on, all of my siblings and I would quiet down and watch.” Janicki recently got married and is enjoying sharing her love for all things spooky with her new husband.  

Read below to learn more about this specimen slayer. 

What is the theme of your space? Monsters, I am definitely a spooky girl. 

What is your favorite thing in here and why? That is really tough one. It is tied between three things. I love my monster pair (Frankenstein and his bride), the bouquet of flowers a friend dried out for me, and the xenomorph my 16-year-old brother made me. I was so surprised. He printed it, painted it, it really showed he cared. It means a lot that he did that.  

Do you listen to anything when you are working? Favorite music or podcast? Lately, I have been listening to Smosh Reads Reddit Stories. I don’t know if the stories are real but it is pretty neat to hear how the hosts react to the stories.  

What office supplies are you obsessed with? I love a good pen. Anyone who has worked in a lab, knows that a good pen is hard to come by and they go missing. So when i have a good one, I like to hang onto it!  

What is something unexpected on your desk? I have this cute planter but there is hand sanitizer hidden in it!