A Shenandoah University graduate is returning to her alma mater this fall to teach as an assistant professor of biology.
Kathleen Lasick ’16, Ph.D., earned her doctorate in molecular and cellular biology in December 2022, at the University of Arizona, which is where she went right after graduating from Shenandoah with undergraduate degrees in biology and chemistry.
“I wanted to return to Shenandoah because I had such a good experience, thanks to the professors I had, and I wanted to be able to support future students in similar ways,” Dr. Lasick said. “I love the small classes at Shenandoah that allow for lots of interaction between the students and professors! I’m so excited to get to focus on getting to know my students and how I can support each of them on their unique path to a career.”
Lasick benefited from the kind of Shenandoah experience that she hopes to provide to her students. “At Shenandoah, I got prepared for doing research by learning technical skills and I began developing my ability to analyze data and plan experiments. I also learned how important a solid relationship with your mentor is in terms of feeling comfortable finding your way through the uncertainty that is doing science.”
At least one of her mentors was also instrumental in bringing her back to Winchester. “I kept in contact with Dr. Beth Cantwell throughout graduate school because she was my mentor at Shenandoah and a good friend,” Lasick said. “As I realized that what I really wanted to do with my career was teach biology at the college level, I talked to Beth about how I would love to be at a small school like Shenandoah, so when the job opened up right as I graduated, she let me know!”
Cantwell said she’s excited for Lasick’s return for a number of reasons. “Since she was very engaged in the department and the university as a student, she will be able to offer our students and our faculty a perspective that is truly Shenandoah. Her commitment to helping all students succeed and reach their goals has driven every decision she has made in her education and in her teaching thus far. I consider us very lucky to have brought her back to SU.”
Lasick said she cherishes the connections she made with peers and professors at Shenandoah, and hopes to help students become excited about science and its applications across a variety of career fields. “I also hope to make students feel accepted and seen for all the wonderful differences each person brings to the classroom and life in general.”
And in doing so, she might just create another full-circle experience like her own.
