Meet the Team
Jean Persley - Gardening
Jean openly admits she’s killed several plants over the last twenty years. And that’s what makes her a master gardener.
“Do you truly know a plant until you’ve killed it?” she asked, laughing.
That embrace of failures and the lessons they teach is exactly what Persley brings to her gardening and horticulture courses at OCC.
A lifelong gardener, Persley recalled growing vegetables and marigolds at her childhood home, and raising houseplants alongside her three children. But a visit to the University of North Carolina booth at a flower show inspired her to enroll in a master gardener course, and she kept learning from there. Now, as a respected Master Gardener, Conservation Steward, Master Naturalist, and certified Landscape Designer, Persley brings her wealth of experience to OCC’s Community Education Program.
Lessons in gardening
In The Cultivated Conservationist class she taught at OCC’s Auburn Hills campus, students learned all about natives, nativars, exotics, and invasives, along with the why and how of native plants. Persley draws on her decades of experience to give her students plenty of resources so they can grow plants their own way—failures included. In the last Cultivated Conservationist class, Persley gave away $100 worth of seeds, so there was no financial pressure on the students to get it right.
Part of Persley’s success in the gardening and horticulture world is her willingness to experiment with plants in different soil, sun, or watering cadences. She encourages her students to play with plants and discover how different techniques work for each plant.
“I want students to know they can do this, and they can start as small as they want,” she said. “And if they have a couple failures, that’s okay! That’s where they’re going to learn, and I hope they dig into the failure point to understand what went wrong and come back stronger.”
A recent student in her Cultivated Conservationist class at OCC said “ Jean is an enthusiastic, engaging teacher with a deep love of the environment. Her enthusiasm is contagious and vitally important.”
Winter sowing and preparing for spring in Metro DetroitDon Burlett - Birdwatching
Don is a retired research chemist (Ph.D. Organic Chemistry) who has been a birdwatcher his entire life. He has birded all seven continents and in 50 countries. His world birding list is currently over 6400 species. He has been President of the Oakland Bird Alliance (previously Oakland Audubon Society) for 18 years and is currently serving this organization as Program Chair. He is also a member of Michigan Audubon, National Audubon Society, and the American Birding Association. He has led numerous field trips and has given several presentations on birdwatching (birding).
Mary Van Dyke - Crochet
Mary has been crocheting for over 40 years, switching from knitting because she preferred crochet's faster progress. Her expertise grew 15 years ago after joining the Southeast Michigan Crochet Guild (SEMCG), which teaches the craft and donates handmade items to non-profits. Van Dyke is also a member of the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) and the Detroit Knitting and Crochet Club. Recently, she collaborated with Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) to teach basic stitches, potholders, and granny squares at The Helm in Grosse Pointe.
Dawn Hach - Mahjong
Dawn is the founder of The Mahjong Mingle, a Metro Detroit–based experience that brings people together through American Mahjong. She has led classes, workshops and private instruction for a range of audiences, including community organizations and corporate groups. Known for her approachable teaching style, Hach creates welcoming spaces where players can learn the game, build confidence, and connect with others.
Mahjong and Minglefox2detroit.comDenise Watson - Sewing
Denise holds a degree in Fashion Management from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and brings years of experience in clothing construction and fashion design. She refined her teaching skills by instructing fabric store and college courses throughout metro Detroit. Passionate about sharing her love for design, Watson helps students unleash their creativity and discover how rewarding sewing can be.