Dr. Maze Bi Ndukum - Volunteer of the Month

My name is Gerald Brewah, Facilitator for the CFNA Scholarship Program, originally from Sierra Leone, West Africa. It is my delight and honor to introduce to CFNA E-News readers one of the newest members of the CFNA family (and volunteer of the month). She is Dr. Maze Bi Ndukum, a postdoctoral trainee at Washington University. Maze is one of the few female scientists in the diaspora hailing from Africa and I believe her involvement with CFNA will send a strong and positive message to all New Americans, particularly women, to seriously consider the study of science. Without a doubt, science is not only meant for boys, but for girls too.

It has been recently reported that St. Louis has the potential to become one of the fastest growing tech centers in the nation, not unlike Silicon Valley of just a couple decades ago. Moreover, St. Louis could remain strongly competitive because it has some of the finest universities in the nation. I therefore hope CFNA and Dr. Maze will continue to encourage the young minds of New Americans to consider science as a field of study. Here is what Dr. Maze Bi Ndukum wishes to share with our readers:

“I was born and raised in the city of Bamenda located in the Northwest Province of Cameroon, West Africa. I had the privilege to attend a Catholic elementary school for 4 years, it was great time in my life. My parents raised us in the Catholic Church. Due to financial constraints however, my parents had me transferred to the public school. Because of the initial exposure to early Christian education, I always wanted to go back. So my parents let me attend a Catholic high school called St Augustine’s college Nso, and this is where I received my High School diploma in 1997. I enrolled at the University of Buea, in Cameroon where I studied for a Bachelor of Science and later a Master in Science degree in Microbiology. I developed a deep interest in science. Shortly thereafter, I received an opportunity to attend graduate school to study for a PhD at Saint Louis University, which I received with great joy.

“Presently, I am a postdoctoral trainee at the Genome Institute’s Human Microbiome Project laboratory at Washington University School of Medicine here in St Louis. As a research trainee, I am receiving training to become a Research Scientist. Specifically, I am studying the effectiveness of the pneumococcal vaccine given to children in two developing countries — The Gambia in Africa and Bangladesh in Asia. This is a very interesting study that has prospects to help reduce disease burden in these places. It is also a great opportunity for me as I get a chance to experience what it takes to set up and carry out international collaborative research.

“I learned about CFNA during a conversation with Pastor John Loum. With his encouragement our son started attending school at Word of Life Lutheran School, and we are honored that our son is a recipient of the CFNA scholarship this year. When I can, I like to speak with other children about the work I do now, to inspire them to think positively of their future. To this effect, my children and I recently enjoyed being part of the Peace Center Tutoring program for a science presentation to the students about DNA extraction from strawberries.

“I have had several challenges in life including moving from Cameroon to St Louis and adapting to life here as a student, new wife, and new mother. However, my most recent challenging experience is still on going. My family recently went through a divorce. This has been a very difficult time for us, really devastating for our family and so hard to watch our children suffer for what they did not cause and for them to feel pain they did not deserve. I say so because my parents are still together after 45 years of marriage, and I had many negative feelings, like feeling that I failed my children. This experience has also helped me and our children to draw close to God. I gradually have learnt to rely on God’s Word. I felt we are lost with no family and I have been consoled by God’s Word in Psalm 68:6 which says “God places the lonely in families; He sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.” I feel that God has answered our prayers and has placed us in several families, of which the CNFA family is one of them.

“It is a blessing for me to be the mother of three wonderful children; Nevin, Nina-Annette, and Lisa. With them, Aunty Frunwi and our extended family, I have the most enjoyable experiences. My children are still very young and they need me a lot now and I enjoy very much doing things with them and watching them grow.”

Note: Dr. Ndukum and her family attend worship services at Timothy, and occasionally Ascension, Lutheran Churches.

By Dr. Maze Bi Ndukum with Mr. Gerald Brewah