As Jenise M. Snyder, Ph.D., wraps up her first year as dean of Arts, Sciences and Professional Studies at Ursuline College, she reflects on her career pathway as a woman in science and on her goals to advance the STEM curriculum that she loves.
A professor of biology for Ursuline College since 2010, and former chair of the biology department, Jenise Snyder is known for her innovative approaches to learning inside and outside the classroom.
And with her unique life experience and passion for science, she’s a perfect fit for the job.
Like many Ursuline students, Snyder is a first-generation college graduate. What’s more, she’s an accomplished athlete, and a sizable cohort of Ursuline students compete in one of the college’s 11 NCAA Division II sports as the Arrows. Snyder, a triathlete, shares this love of sports and fits in time for running, biking or swimming about six days per week.
In addition, many Ursuline students come to the campus after earning associate degrees or credits at community colleges. She did, too. Snyder’s path began at a community college close to her home in Miami, Florida. She later enrolled at Florida International University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in biology teacher education and went on to further advanced education from there.
With an enrollment of more than 1,000 students, Ursuline prides itself on providing flexibility for students who have multiple responsibilities outside of the classroom, like jobs or families. In July 2020, Forbes Magazine reported on a study by the American Enterprise Institute that named Ursuline College No. 1 in the nation out of 1,100 colleges for student upward mobility.
“Our beautiful campus is situated in Pepper Pike, and we’re very affordable,” says Snyder. “It’s a great place to be part of a community and build relationships with faculty and fellow students. You get to know everyone and are not lost in the crowd. We are small but have a tremendous number of programs. In my school alone there are 26 majors and degrees.”
Ursuline is well known for the programs within its Breen School of Nursing and Health Professions. It boasts a 100% employment rate post licensure, and a first-time passage rate on the national nurse licensing exam of over 90%. Its graduate nursing program is ranked fourth in Ohio, and it recently added a nurse anesthesia track to its Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.
“But we are much more than a nursing school,” Snyder emphasizes.
Not surprisingly, she projects that STEM studies will be the major growth area for the school. The biology-loving educator sees opportunities for teaching science everywhere, and Ursuline’s 60-acre campus is the living laboratory for her work.
“Science is all around us,” she adds.
This became apparent after a tornado struck the college in July 2013. The usually tranquil campus suffered great damage to its diverse landscape, which includes a stream and a reservoir, along with forest, wetlands and meadows. In addition, three buildings were damaged, but fortunately no one was injured. Snyder used the tragedy as a biology lesson that she and her students still study today.
“Nature builds back stronger,” she says. “As an ecologist, we study what happens after a natural disturbance and how nature renews itself. Hundreds of baby beech trees and shrubs are growing in place of trees that were at the end of their lifespan. The tornado was a blessing in disguise.”
Snyder’s passion for STEM goes back to her undergraduate days, where one of her first biology professors was a woman. She shares that she was fortunate to have several strong women mentors throughout her education, and she hopes to bring the benefit of that experience to her students.
“My first field courses were taught by women who delighted in mucking through wetlands collecting plants, soil and water — I found my place and my people,” she says.
She continued to be inspired by female advisors during her master’s program in biology at Florida International University and her PhD in ecology from the University of California.
“Having powerful, intelligent women role models gave me the confidence,” she says. “I could see who and what I could be through them.”
To that end, she is working on two grant-related projects that advance career readiness. The Cleveland Foundation’s Fenn Educational Fund is supporting efforts by the college to increase internship opportunities for students in arts, sciences and professional studies. And the state-sponsored Choose Ohio First program awards scholarships to Ohio college students majoring in STEM subjects.
In addition to her passion for STEM, Snyder has taken on leadership roles in other areas of the college, including the school’s redesigned online MBA program, which started this year. The program is one of a dozen undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs Ursuline offers online or hybrid.
“Our MBA offers leadership development and a curriculum for people to elevate their skills in the workplace and improve their career trajectory,” she says.
In her spare time, Snyder blends her love of nature with her passion for fitness.
As a member of the Cleveland Triathlon Club, she can be found swimming in Lake Erie two to three times a week from May through early October.
“I love being outdoors, and Northeast Ohio is a great place to train and study,” she says. “I’ve been on almost every trail in the Metroparks and Cuyahoga Valley National Park.”
The 47-year-old says she does about six to eight races per year in Ohio and in her hometown in south Florida.
“Health and wellness are so important. I hope I’m a role model to my students,” she adds.
Over the years, Snyder has prioritized mentoring her students and reminds them that her career path to her role as dean has taken many twists and turns. She advises students to keep an open mind about the future.
“I’m a scientist, my first degree was in education, but I paid for my degree working in finance,” she says. “Enjoy the journey. Follow your heart. It may not be a linear path, and that’s okay.”