As a woman who thrives on reinventing herself often, Madeleine McLean Longano (CAS, 76) says her strong liberal studies education is key to her success and happiness in her many and varied pursuits since graduating from Oakland University with a major in Italian and Art History.
Before coming to Oakland University, Longano spent two years studying art in Italy. At the end of her European experience, Longano headed home to Romeo, Mich., where her mother’s passion for OU influenced her decision to earn her bachelor’s degree there.
Longano’s mother, who died four years ago, was very involved in the Macomb Town Hall Lecture Series which raises scholarship money for Macomb County students to attend Oakland University. Since her death, Longano’s family developed the Gladys McLean Macomb Town Hall Endowed Scholarship Fund for Macomb County students, which is part of the scholarship program at OU, to honor her dedication to education and to OU.
When comparing her experience at OU to her education in Italy, Longano says, “The caliber of the classes and professors at Oakland were incredible.” She cites specific classes such as Cultural Linguistics and Russian Area Studies as some she thoroughly enjoyed.
Since graduating from OU, Longano has held a variety of professional paid and volunteer positions – all of which fit into the life plan she developed after reading What Color is your Parachute?
“After reading that book, I spent a long time assessing myself and my interests, then came up with a list of four very different things I wanted to accomplish – and I ended up doing all of them,” she says.
Although all four items are quite different from each other, Longano was successful in each area thanks to her strong liberal studies education. Those four things were: lead study tours in Europe, work in a museum, work with an American university in Italy and teach English as a second language.
Her philosophy on life – to be happy and successful doing what interests you and what you enjoy – is founded on her educational background.
“Having a really good liberal arts education means you can think, solve problems and know yourself and identify your priorities,” she says.
Longano’s list of professional credentials includes more than 20 years in education and business. She directed public affairs for the student aid professional's national association in Washington, D.C.; managed publications and PR for St. Francis College in New York City; and oversaw alumni and student services for Johns Hopkins University in Bologna, Italy.
In Washington, D.C., Longano led study tours for Academic Travel Abroad, taught at an inner city trade school, served as group leader for a high school leadership program and taught art at the Smithsonian Institution.
When she stopped working in downtown Washington 10 years ago, it proved a
great time to reevaluate her life and priorities.
“I wanted to continue teaching, and I wanted to create an opportunity to do that,” she says. So she took time to discover the type of teaching she wanted to pursue by taking substitute teacher jobs in a variety of grades and subjects. That experience led her to determine grade school was her niche.
From there, Longano got involved in the planetarium education program managed by the parent’s group of her children’s elementary school. That involvement evolved from volunteer member to director and led to her current role as astronomy instructor for the Explore-It-all Science Center in Bethesda, Maryland. And that role is expanding as the center is launching a robotics engineering program which Longano plans to teach.
But that’s not all on Longano’s plate these days. She also teaches religion classes at her church, supervises a major renovation of her family’s 60-year-old house and raises three children.
“The key to being able to do so many different things is education,” Longano says. “With a liberal arts background you can be creative, flexible and learn to work with many different personalities. It allows you to be open to learning and trying new things, which expands your world. My children see my joy and success with my work, and I trust they'll pursue their own passions with equal zeal."