by Melissa S. Treacy

Montgomery County Community College alumna Sierra (Seaman) Root is completing her Ph.D. at the University of Connecticut working on stem cell research. She credits Biology Professor Dr. Christopher Harendza and Montgomery County Community College for providing a solid foundation for her career in science research.

Photo courtesy of Sierra (Seaman) Root  

After multiple surgeries and treatments for Crohn's disease, Sierra (Seaman) Root didn't think following her dreams to become a medical doctor would be remotely possible. When she decided to enroll at Montgomery County Community College after high school, she only took one class per semester to keep her mind occupied while she underwent various surgeries.

"I started there because of my surgeries, really," said Root. As Crohn's disease caused both inflammation and joint pain, as well as numerous intestinal problems, Root struggled with intravenous feedings, tube feedings and multiple trips to the operating room to remove sections of her intestines.

At times, Root would have to carry on her studies while also undergoing 12-hour IV feedings.

Despite her challenges, Root, originally of Lansdale, finished her associate's degree and continued to study biology and chemistry at the University of Hartford, where she obtained a bachelor's degree in each.

She now is finishing up her Ph.D. in biomedical sciences with the University of Connecticut Health Center.

Root said that none of that would have been possible without her start at Montgomery County Community College, where she met Biology Professor Dr. Christopher Harendza, who she credits with getting her into her current fields.

"He was great," she said. "He was my first professor. I had him for physiology and anatomy. At the time, I wanted to be a medical doctor, but didn't think I could with all of my medical issues."

However, Harendza, recognizing that she was a gifted student, encouraged her to do more.

"He recommended me for a job at the microbiology lab, as an assistant there," said Root. "I'd prep the lab for students. I worked there a couple of years while I took courses."

Seeing her excellent laboratory skills and the level of her work, particularly her papers, he suggested that she look into research. Root agreed.

He was also the first to advise Root to go for her Ph.D. She went on to focus her associate's degree in biology. She credits Montgomery County Community College with her successes, both academically and romantically.

"It is also where I met my husband," she laughed. The two met in a history class during her last year there. They also worked together in student government, while Benjamin was the president and she was the student chair.

"We got to go to Washington D.C. and advocate for the continuation of Pell grants," she said.

The two went on to attend the University of Hartford together, as he majored in engineering. Both were able to transfer all of their credits.

Based on her accomplishments and membership in Phi Beta Kappa, Root says she was granted several scholarships, which she estimates covered about 70 percent of her costs at Hartford.

She said all of her experiences at Montgomery County Community College helped her to become the student she is today, about to complete a Ph.D.

"Even being in student government, speaking in front of people," she said. "I had experiences there that helped to make me more of an adult, a successful member of society."

Editor's Note: Root's doctoral research focuses on designing new strategies to generate, identify, and isolate specific cells that arise from human embryonic stem cells and are capable of ultimately developing into the precursors–called progenitors–that form blood, bone, and blood vessels through biological processes called hematopoiesis, osteogenesis, and vasculogenesis. These three processes are linked during development and understanding how they interact could eventually benefit those diagnosed with such conditions as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and several types of cancer. Root has co-authored several articles in this field, which have been published the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

Biology Professor Dr. Christopher Harendza encouraged Sierra (Seaman) Root to use her knowledge and strengths to pursue her passion in science research.

Photo courtesy of Christopher Harendza    

Dental Connection
and Education

Dental Hygiene alumni met at the Blue Bell campus on Nov. 14 for an evening of networking and continuing education. Current Dental Hygiene students met with the alumni and shared some of their work through displays and poster boards. Then, they listened to Lisandra Maisonet's presentation, "Anticipatory Guidance—the Hygienist's Role in Revolutionizing Pediatric Care."

Longwood Gardens Alumni Bus Trip

On December 6, alumni and friends boarded a bus at the Blue Bell campus and spent the day touring the former mansions of Henry Francis du Pont (Winterthur) and Pierre S. du Pont (Longwood Gardens), enjoying the holiday décor, lights and beautiful gardens.

Photo by Stephanie Wittig    

Save the dates!

Upcoming events include

Our apologies to one of our new Alumni Board Members, Rodolfo "Rudy" Tellez! His biography summary as printed in bigDreams Fall 2013 had some inaccurate information. The following paragraph contains the correct details about him.

Born in Bolivia, Rodolfo "Rudy" Tellez moved to the United States as a teenager and graduated from Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School. He then earned his associate's degree in Liberal Studies at Montgomery County Community College in 1993 and his bachelor's degree in Communications from West Chester University, followed by his Masters of Education degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Kutztown University. He currently teaches Spanish-English interpretation at LaSalle University as an adjunct faculty member and works as a medical, legal and conference interpreter in the tri-state area.

Rodolfo "Rudy" Tellez, Alumni Board Member