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Brookhaven Chemistry Professor Shares Her Passion

Dr. Claire Bambrough is exactly the kind of dedicated and passionate teacher that the DCCCD STEM Institute wants as a faculty fellow to mentor high-achieving students studying science, technology, engineering and math.

Established in 2009, the institute allows selected students the opportunity to receive personalized faculty mentoring, as well as research opportunities, internships and a cash stipend. Funding for the Citi STEM Faculty Fellows program was secured in great part through the efforts of DCCCD Foundation Board Member Debbie Taylor, southwest regional director for community relations at Citi.

“The idea is to meet with students on a weekly basis and stay in contact with them to make sure they’re on track to transfer to a four-year institution,” says Bambrough. The first person in her family to go to college, she earned undergraduate and doctoral degrees in her native England before coming to the U.S. 14 years ago to serve as an engineer in Richardson’s telecom corridor.

Finding Her Calling

Laid off in the dot-com crash of the 1990s, Bambrough took time to stay home with her children – and soon realized that she craved more intellectual stimulation. She first began working weekends as an adjunct professor at Richland College, then as a visiting scholar and full-time faculty member at Brookhaven, where she has taught chemistry since 2006.

“I found that I loved teaching and motivating students,” she says of the qualities that led to her selection as a Citi STEM Faculty Fellow. “I’ve always been passionate about encouraging women to pursue science fields, and having these relationships with the students means so much to me.”

Passing On Her Passion

One of her former STEM mentees, Kimberly DeBruler is equally enthusiastic about Professor Bambrough. “She provided a sympathetic ear when juggling work and school became overwhelming, sound advice about selecting courses and a major, and insight into the challenges facing a woman pursuing a career in the hard sciences,” says Kimberly, now a pre-med and biochemistry transfer student at Rice University.

It seems that Bambrough has found her career calling. “Teaching is my favorite job that I’ve
ever had,” she says. “I know that I absolutely want to stay in the classroom.”

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Dr. Claire Bambrough and Kim Debuler