As Washtenaw Community College prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary, we recognize
the thousands of alumni who turned opportunity into achievement. For six decades,
WCC has opened doors to education, careers and brighter futures — and these 60 Stories that will be compiled over the year reflect that enduring mission.
When Dan Tyrrell goes to work each day, he dons a white lab coat, puts on latex gloves and studies genes.
More specifically, he examines genes in mice, hoping to find keys to ridding the human body of atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque in the arteries that can cause heart attacks.
As for the work, “I really love it,” he says. “I’ve always been interested in science.”
And the educational journey to this rewarding career began at Washtenaw Community College, where he earned a General Studies in Math and Natural Science associate degree, with honors, in 2008.
Why WCC? “I always knew I wanted to go to college,” the Milan High School graduate said, “but I didn’t want to take on a lot of debt.”
So, with WCC’s affordable tuition and an academic scholarship to boot, Tyrrell was able to earn a degree without the burden of student debt. It turned out to be the first of multiple academic degrees and scholarship grants he’s received over the years.
After WCC, Tyrrell earned a bachelor of science degree in Kinesiology from the University of Michigan and then a Ph.D. in Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology from Wake Forest University.
He’s served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Michigan Medical School, with a research focus on the biological mechanisms of cardiovascular aging.
Beyond the cost savings, another big benefit of starting at WCC, Tyrrell says, is taking pre-requisite physics and biology courses in a classroom with 30 students rather than a giant lecture hall with 300 or more.
“I didn’t feel I was behind when I went to U-M,” he said.
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This story first appeared in the August 2021 edition of On The Record.
Tags: 60 Stories, 60th Anniversary, Alumni Profile, General Studies