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Dr. Cynthia DeBoy

Clare Boothe Luce Associate Professor of Biology

Programs

Courses Taught

BIOL 130 Microbiology for the Health Professions
BIOL 241 Introductory Genetics
BIOL 341 Cell and Molecular Biology
BIOL 351 Ecology
BIOL 441 General Microbiology

Education

  • B.S., Biology and Chemistry, Bridgewater Collge
  • Ph.D., Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Loyola University Chicago

Interests

  • Neuroimmunology
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Microglia and oligodendrocyte functions within normal and inflamed brains Interactions between T lymphocytes, microglia and neurons

Awards

  • Recipient of National Multiple Sclerosis Society postdoctoral fellowship FG 165-A-1, August 2006 - July 2009

Select Works Published

  • “FLT-3 expression and function on microglia in multiple sclerosis.”
    Deboy CA, Rus H, Tegla C, Cudrici C, Jones MV, Pardo CA, Small D, Whartenby KA, Calabresi PA., Exp Mol Pathol. 2010 Oct;89(2):109-16., 2010
  • “Behavioral and Pathological Outcomes in MOG 35-55 Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
    Jones, M.V., Nguyen, T.T., DeBoy, C.A., Griffin, J.W., Whartenby, K.A., Kerr, D.A., J Neuroimmunology. 199(1-2):83-93., 2008
  • “High Resolution Diffusion Tensor Imaging of Axonal Damage in Focal Inflammatory and Demyelinating Lesions in Rat Spinal Cord.”
    DeBoy C.A., Zhang, J., Dike, S., Shats, I., Jones, M., Reich, D.S., et al., Brain 2007; 130: 2199-210., 2007

Philosophy

I am passionate about teaching because I have a love for learning and I am energized by facilitating learning for others. I am invigorated by the challenge of continuously developing more effective and engaging ways to help students form a solid foundation and framework of knowledge, particularly in the life sciences, that will support and prepare them for a lifetime of learning. I strive to facilitate a process of learning that enables students to develop the skills to think critically, and to process, organize, analyze and evaluate the plethora of information they will undoubtedly encounter and acquire throughout their lifetimes. I have a deep appreciation for the value of a classroom environment in which women’s education is the focus and a shared goal of learning is at the forefront. I find such a setting ideal for creating a collaborative learning environment that fosters a woman’s self esteem and confidence and which nurtures a desire to succeed. I am drawn to Trinity because of the sense of welcoming and inclusiveness that permeates the Trinity community within the classroom and beyond. I recognize that each individual within the Trinity community has encountered unique and transforming life experiences that she brings to Trinity to add to the community of learning. I therefore strive to tailor pedagogy that will embrace the uniqueness of each Trinity student in a way that will maximize the potential for each individual to learn within the community of learning.