Life sciences professor makes a difference for BC students

Dr. Isaiah Schauer’s professional career has always revolved around helping others.

His skills have taken him into the prestigious laboratories of Baylor College of Medicine and MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he was involved in potentially life-saving cancer research. He’s also shared his knowledge with students as a teacher on the university level.

然而,他掩饰Brazosport学院ves he’s making his biggest impact. He feels this way because he has a passion for community colleges and the benefits they provide.

“My mom and dad were, and still are, shining examples of dedicated, loving parents who worked hard for my every need,” Isaiah said of his childhood. “But we were not a wealthy family, and a college savings account was a little out of reach. I had to work my way through college, and community college was by far the best choice for me.”

Judging from his accomplishments, this was obviously the right decision for him.

从一个Orego后实现了副学士n community college, Isaiah went on to earn a Bachelor of Science from Oregon State University, followed by a PhD from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

He credits much of his educational success to the confidence he gained while attending community college. Having an opportunity to help those in similar situations also played a major role in his decision to accept a teaching position at Brazosport College many years later.

“I hoped to pay-it-forward, so to speak,” Isaiah said. “It was a community college professor who altered the course of my life by sacrificially giving of his time and knowledge, and I want to do the same for every single student who sits in my classroom or lab.”

Isaiah has now been at Brazosport College for 11 years and teaches nearly every course in the school’s Life Sciences catalog. He is also respected and beloved by many of his current and former students.

“Some of my past students walked into my classroom believing themselves to be failures, and I felt their heartache,” Isaiah said. “They often carry heavy baggage of past failures, just like I carried as a young community college student.

“We all need people to believe in us, to hear us, to listen to us and to see us,” he added. “The main thing is that I believe in the students from the first time I see them. To see that turnaround is completely, totally inspiring, and that’s what wakes me up every morning.”

No doubt, Isaiah is more than just a teacher. Rather, his goal is not only to help his students excel in classes, but also to empower and build them up to do great things. He also feels this is a common belief throughout the faculty at Brazosport College.

“Here at BC, the faculty teaching the classes focuses on the whole student,” he said. “We want to engage the inner scholar and engage our students to rise and achieve.

“BC also offers something few other undergraduate universities can: a well-trained, knowledgeable faculty teaching less than 30 students in an active, hands-on manner,” he added. “This is the secret sauce, if you will, of Brazosport College’s success.”

With that said, Isaiah has one final piece of advice for anyone who finds college intimidating or is on the fence about starting a collegiate journey.

“Don’t wait, don’t underestimate yourself and stop believing the lies of those who say you’ll never amount to anything,” Isaiah said. “Believe in yourself and don’t procrastinate. Go register today and choose to take classes at Brazosport College.”