Nevila Jana

I have been teaching chemistry courses at different higher education levels (undergraduate and graduate) for about three decades now. It has been a nice and challenging journey stretched between two continents: it started at the University of Tirana, Albania, where I got all my professional degrees, and is now continuing at MCPHS in Boston, MA. The transition has not been easy. Three years of working as a chemist in an environmental testing company in Marlboro, MA gave me some insight of how this industry works, but my love for teaching made me go back to where I belonged. As a chemistry educator, I encourage project-based learning and case studies as efficient teaching/learning tools in becoming successful professionals. Collaboration with colleagues is a top priority in my career. As a result, I have co-developed and co-taught an interdisciplinary course on Malaria disease for premedical and health studies students at MCPHS. My long experience in higher education and in the environmental field (contributing in UN funded projects as a national consultant in Albania) have given me the opportunity to connect, apply and share my knowledge and love for chemistry with others. I like to end with a quote from Mother Teresa that has always inspired me: “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love”!