MassBay Alum Earns Ph.D. from Brandeis University

MassBay Community College alumna Suhaily Penix has taken the College’s “Start Here, Go Anywhere” motto to new heights, turning her pursuit of an associate degree into a path culminating in a PhD. Suhaily describes her journey as a testament to the support she received at MassBay, and her accomplishments tell a story of resilience, ambition, and an unshakeable love for learning.
After graduating from English High in Boston, Suhaily worked in the banking industry and served as a corrections officer for six years. However, she knew she wanted greater career growth. Driven by a passion for science and a desire to transform her career, she enrolled at MassBay in 2012. As a first-generation college student, navigating higher education was a new and challenging experience, but she found her academic spark in MassBay’s Biotechnology program.
Balancing school and motherhood, Suhaily flourished, earning a Goldwater Scholar honorable mention and the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship. These national recognitions helped lead her to Wellesley College, where she earned a bachelor’s in biological sciences in 2018, followed by a master’s and PhD in molecular and cellular biology from Brandeis University, completed in May 2024. Today, Suhaily is prepared to bring her expertise to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries and is eager to make an impact.
“(Former MassBay Biology Department Chair and Professor) Dr. Bruce Jackson was instrumental at every step of my college journey,” said Suhaily. “As a first-generation student, I had no idea how to navigate higher education, but he saw potential in me that I hadn’t yet seen in myself. I’ll always remember how he encouraged me to present my work at a conference — I was convinced I couldn’t do it, but he had faith in me. Balancing school and motherhood was demanding and overwhelming, but he went above and beyond, even helping with my daughter. His support changed my life, and I’ll always be grateful for his guidance.” Dr. Jackson passed away in 2016.
Three daughters, three degrees, and countless accomplishments later, Suhaily’s story inspires others to chase their dreams.