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Contact:
Liz Cooper
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ecooper@massbay.edu
MassBay Community College alum, Suhaily Penix, graduated from Brandeis University with a Ph.D. in May 2024 Waltham, MA, May 2024. (Photo/Suhaily Penix)
WELLESLEY HILLS, Mass. (December 17, 2024) — 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.
With Three daughters, three degrees and countless achievements, Suhaily Penix embodies MassBay’s “Start Here, Go Anywhere” motto
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.
MassBay Community College is the most affordable higher education option in MetroWest Boston, offering a robust portfolio of courses and more than 70 associate degree and certificate programs with flexible day, evening, and weekend classes in Ashland, Framingham, Wellesley Hills, and online. MassBay students receive an unmatched educational value by earning stackable credits that transfer to bachelor’s degree programs, and workforce-ready skills necessary to advance careers in high-demand fields such as health and life sciences, automotive technology, engineering, business, cybersecurity, and the humanities. MassBay’s Associate Degree in Nursing (RN) and Practical Nursing (LPN) programs were both ranked as the #1 Nursing Program in Massachusetts in 2020, 2021, and 2023 by national nursing advocacy organizations RegisteredNursing.org, and PracticalNursing.org. Since its founding in 1961, MassBay has been accredited by several governing bodies and remains firmly committed to its mission of meeting the needs of the diverse local communities it serves. We value the intrinsic worth of all individuals, collectively in pursuit of inclusiveness and prioritize our work towards achieving equity within our community and beyond.