CBU Lab Instructor Inspires Students with Story of Perseverance
One of CBU鈥檚 greatest assets is its faculty, which is a common sentiment from students past and present. Whether you study science, business, nursing, social work or history, you will find amazing teachers with a genuine interest in your success. Dr. Stacey D鈥橫ello, a new faculty member at CBU, is no exception.
Dr. D鈥橫ello joined CBU鈥檚 biology department this past September as a lab instructor in anatomy and physiology, primarily teaching nursing students. The small class sizes, supportive network of colleagues and diverse student population provided a welcoming environment and a sense of belonging for Dr. D鈥橫ello. She approached her new role with a goal of inspiring students on their academic journeys not just as a scientist and an educator, but also by sharing her own story of challenge, determination and joy. As an immigrant woman of colour, a mother of a young child and a person with a disability, Dr. D鈥橫ello says she identifies with many people who are working to overcome barriers in their educational pursuits. She is eager to be a role model for those who face similar challenges.
Born with a visual impairment, Dr. D鈥橫ello recounts the grim outlook that doctors in India, where she was born, shared with her parents when she was a child. “Doctors suggested my prospects
for learning and employment were none at all, advising my parents to start a trust fund because I would never work,” says Dr. D’Mello. Not willing to accept such outcomes, Dr. D鈥橫ello鈥檚 mother became her greatest champion, filling in the gaps where resources were lacking.
鈥淢y mother would come to school and copy notes from the board for me,鈥� recalls Dr. D鈥橫ello. 鈥淗er unwavering love and support allowed me to not just keep up, but to excel in school.鈥�
The family left India when Dr. D鈥橫ello was 12 years old, relocating to New Zealand. It was in New Zealand that Dr. D鈥橫ello says her confidence emerged and her determination prevailed. After completing graduate studies, she began working on a PhD in molecular medicine, while also serving as a lab instructor for undergraduate programs. The research component of her studies focused on melanoma.
鈥淣ew Zealand has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world so I was excited to conduct research with the potential to advance medical discovery around the disease,鈥� she explains. 鈥淥nce you are immersed in research that can have an impact on so many people, it鈥檚 incredibly motivating to know you are making a difference.鈥�
Following her interest in contributing to melanoma research, Dr. D鈥橫ello accepted a post doctoral fellowship in at the University of Bergen in Norway. 鈥淣orway has the second highest rate of melanoma in the world so it was a wonderful opportunity to continue my research there,鈥� she adds.
While the move introduced new challenges around language, it wasn鈥檛 a deterrent for Dr. D鈥橫ello. 鈥淚 remember feeling a little intimidated with navigating around a new city. But it wasn鈥檛 the most difficult challenge I ever had,鈥� she explains. 鈥淚 connected with a wonderful team of colleagues and forged ahead with learning the Norwegian language.鈥�
As part of her fellowship, Dr. D鈥橫ello had the opportunity to mentor graduate students, as well as those working on their doctoral studies. It was then that she realized how much she missed teaching and working with students.
鈥淭eaching was part of a personal discovery for me. While research had been my singular focus for years, I knew that teaching was very rewarding and that I wanted it to be at least a facet of my career,鈥� Dr. D鈥橫ello shares.
However, it wasn鈥檛 time to step away from her role as a scientist just yet. As she continued with the cancer data collection and analysis related to her research at the University of Bergen, she had the opportunity to connect with a collaborator from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston. , founder of the MIT Department of Biological Engineering, offered the opportunity to train in his lab, where she would gain data analysis skills to support her work in Norway. She accepted the opportunity to work at MIT as a visiting postdoctoral scholar.
鈥淚t was a great honour to train under Dr. Lauffenburger and his team,鈥� says Dr. D鈥橫ello. 鈥淚t was something I never imagined but suddenly I was working with the world鈥檚 leading scientists.鈥� This included , internationally acclaimed in the field of biomedical engineering and recognized for her 1996 research collaboration on the Vacanti mouse, the laboratory mouse that had, what looked like, a human ear grown on its back. Dr. Griffith, who is now director of the Center for Gynepathology Research at the prestigious MIT, was conducting cutting-edge research on women鈥檚 health and in particular, endometriosis.
鈥淭o put this offer in perspective, Dr. Griffith has since been named by Time magazine as one of the ,鈥� Dr. D鈥橫ello explains. 鈥淭here was some overlap in my studies on cancer immune evasion and her work in the crosstalk between immune cells and those in the endometrium of women who have endometriosis, so it was a privilege to work with her.鈥�
Upon conclusion of the one-year term as a visiting scholar at MIT, Dr. D鈥橫ello considered new opportunities that were presented, including a one-year position with MIT, as well as an offer for another fellowship back in Norway. By this time, she had a young child, with family roots in Canada.
鈥淲ith some new considerations guiding me, I wanted to have something that offered a consistent schedule, allowing a balance between career and family,鈥� she explains.
Dr. D鈥橫ello decided to follow a teaching track, finding herself venturing on a path toward Nova Scotia to join the faculty at Cape Breton University. She continues to inspire her students as a lab instructor, while connecting in-福利免费在线看 to support local causes like the Every Women鈥檚 Centre.
CBU is thrilled to welcome Dr. Stacey D鈥橫ello to Cape Breton and to the CBU 福利免费在线看!