Her Story
About Erynn
I never graduated high school. I woke up one day and decided I should go back to school. I took my GED test, passed it, enrolled in community college with remedial classes, transferred, took microbiology and loved it. Without an ed plan I took science classes, moved to Arizona, finished at University of Arizona. After elbow surgery I decided to go into teaching science because I enjoyed it and leading teams. I got a summer internship in a lab, graduated, then completed my PhD in three and a half years. Right after, I got the position teaching at the community college because the instructor retired.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Erynn
01What do you attribute your success to?
Just sheer grit. When it doesn't work out, you just keep trying. View obstacles as just that, an obstacle. I gotta figure out a way to go around it. If it's something that I want, I will get it done.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Find something that you enjoy, and then don't take no for an answer. If you hit a roadblock, find a way to circumnavigate it. You don't need to follow the path that you originally set out with. You can make a new path.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In the current climate, funding for classroom expansion and science education is tricky. We've had to get creative in how we word some of our grants and funding sources. In California there are grants available, and it's a good time to be a woman in science with more women entering allied health careers.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Hard work ethic and critical thinking. Everything else can be patched together if you have a good work ethic and you have critical thinking skills. But that's like a muscle. If you don't work it out, you're gonna lose it.
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