From Undecided to Ph.D.: Meet Merck Senior Scientist, Dr. Theresa Buckley | | |
Dr. Theresa Buckley, a senior scientist with Merck, says she never saw herself as an academic. In hindsight, she’d have been right to hypothesize a future of curiosity, self-awareness, and success—all thanks to an educated yes to LCCC.
As a teenager, Buckley was an Olympic hopeful with the USA Luge Junior National Team. She switched to cyber school in eighth grade to accommodate her busy training and racing schedule.
A change of heart led her to step away from the sport and, ultimately, back into a formal classroom for the first time in five years at LCCC. She had aspirations to volunteer abroad. Buckley knew she wanted to help people, and she sensed that candidates with college degrees were given serious consideration.
Conservations, Curiosity, and Potential
That hunch, coupled with encouragement from a friend to consider the College Honors program, sparked early conversations and the curiosity to explore her potential.
“The honors program put me on the track to being where I am today. I did not believe in myself academically at all,” says Buckley. “But, I had mentors and supportive faculty, and I was surrounded by peers who were so smart.”
Buckley often thinks about her mentor, Dr. Christine Bowditch, who started her thinking not just about next steps, but big ones.
“I told her I was just glad to be getting my associate degree, that I’ll see what happens after that, and she said, ‘You should really be thinking beyond that. You could pursue a Ph.D.’”
Having Chemistry With Science
At LCCC, Buckley decided to lean into learning what she loves, and she learned she loves science. She credits Professor Emeritus Holly Morris with helping pinpoint her passion.
“Her biology class was my first college science class, and I was so fascinated by everything,” says Buckley. “Her entire classroom was such a positive environment. The way she taught helped me learn how to be a student while learning biology.”
Morris introduced chemistry as part of the curriculum, and this had Buckley eager to challenge herself with continued science courses. LCCC’s small class sizes and close-knit learning environment helped her make meaningful connections with faculty, enhancing her college experience with knowledge and a sense of belonging.
A Safe Place to Seek Answers and Keep Learning
As a student and a budding scientist, having a safe place to make mistakes, get introduced to research, think about new problems, and round learning curves with support was critical for Buckley. A chemistry assessment placed her in a pre-course that familiarized her with the fundamentals she needed to advance her trajectory.
“I was able to get what I needed at the right level for me. It was offered. No judgement. Nobody made me feel stupid for not yet knowing something,” says Buckley. “The fundamentals are the root. It doesn’t matter how complicated it gets. Chemistry is all about electrons. Knowing this made the harder courses easier.”
This catalyzed a growth mindset in Buckley, helping her to have compassion for herself, as well as others. This proved valuable in her role as a teaching assistant at Penn State University, where she did, ultimately, pursue the Ph.D. Dr. Bowditch alluded to completing a Ph.D. in chemistry.
Her doctoral path to Penn State was preceded by earning her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at Kutztown University, which she attended on an All-Pennsylvania Academic Team scholarship that is awarded to state system transfer students who achieve academic excellence and demonstrate a commitment to their community college.
Buckley was active with the Student Government Association (SGA), and then Director of Student Life Gene Eden, who oversaw SGA, brought the scholarship opportunity to Buckley’s attention.
“Knowing I could eliminate the barrier of taking on college debt was amazing. I was going to have my associate and then, with the scholarship, I just knew with certainty that I was going to be transferring to Kutztown to earn my bachelor’s,” says Buckley.
Getting Involved and Creating Community
LCCC opportunities with SGA, the honors program, as well as the Outdoors Club, enriched Buckley beyond the classroom, shaping her into a learner and a leader who values getting involved, giving back, and creating community.
“I learned that showing up and actively participating is important,” Buckley says. “Building community at LCCC helped me seek out and create community everywhere I’ve gone since.”
A Smart Start for an Amazing Career
Today, Buckley is a senior scientist working in analytical research and development at Merck. She is grateful her younger, not-so-certain self possessed the curiosity to consider a smart start at LCCC. While she had no idea what exactly she was starting, her experimental spirit, coupled with LCCC’s engaging and supportive faculty, staff and students, helped her realize she’s an academic after all—and a high-achieving one at that.
Alumni like Buckley showcase the world of global innovation that is happening right here, in our very own backyard, among the rolling hills of LCCC’s main campus in Schnecksville, and the recently announced $5 million workforce training investment with Eli Lilly means LCCC will continue sharpening the leading edge for solving the most pressing health science challenges of our time.
Helping Others Looks Like Leading Global Innovation
The science happening at LCCC is certainly sound for Buckley, who first set out with a heart-filled aspiration to help others.
“At Merck, I provide life-saving medicine that could save someone from pain,” says Buckley. “I always wanted to be helping people, right? So, knowing the work I’m doing now, just getting to be a small piece of a bigger puzzle, is super important to me.”
From being undecided to being destined to keep learning, Buckley says LCCC saw the scientist in her that she needed to see in herself.
“At LCCC, the professors and staff really want to connect with you. They see you, and they believe you’re there because you’re going somewhere. They truly want to prepare you for wherever that is. They want to help you get there,” says Buckley.
| | LCCC Commencement Speaker Bedoya & Soloist Clarke | | |
Whether stepping up to an all-new starting line or pushing on to finish strong, commencement celebrates staying the course, seeing how far you’ve come, and inspiring others to invest in their own potential.
Student speaker Brittani Bedoya and soloist Shanice Clarke model this spirit and what it means to dream big, work hard, and celebrate the people who support you along the way. The two recent graduates were eager to bring their energy to Lehigh Carbon Community College’s 59th annual commencement exercises, held May 18, at the PPL Center in downtown Allentown.
Brittani Bedoya
Bedoya is no stranger to facing adversity and harnessing the strength to try again. Her remarks touched upon struggling with homelessness, living through abuse, and resurfacing to see her son and daughter, ages four and seven, as the cheerleaders she needed to succeed at becoming a nurse.
“Because every time my children looked at me, I was capable of anything,” said Bedoya at commencement. “I realized I had two choices: become the person they believed I was or teach them that dreams don’t come true.”
Bedoya refused to let the latter become her reality. Through late nights and self-doubt, while juggling mothering and marriage, Bedoya earned her associate degree in health science and is entering St. Luke’s School of Nursing this fall to become a registered nurse.
“When I first started this journey, I wanted to get into critical care and emergency room trauma, but I’m leaning more towards NICU and PICU to care for children. My son was diagnosed with epilepsy last year, and connecting with nurses working in these environments through my studies really shifted my thinking,” says Bedoya.
LCCC’s online offerings and supportive faculty met Bedoya at the intersection of life and learning, making it possible to earn her degree at her own pace.
“With my son’s diagnosis, there were nights where I was in the hospital doing my homework while sitting next to him, and I had a lot of professors reach out to make sure I was okay, that my son was okay, just to say, ‘I understand what you’re going through, and I’m here for you,’” says Bedoya. “This is why LCCC has a piece of my heart.”
Courses in chemistry, anatomy, and physiology challenged Bedoya, but her instructors situated safety nets—from one-on-one study time to test-taking strategies—to help her command the subject matter. Their compassionate disposition more deeply cemented her desire to make a career of caring for others.
The budding nurse in Bedoya regularly took inventory of her peers, noticing their different walks of life that all somehow led them to the path that is LCCC. She says, “I’ve sat next to younger dual enrollment high school students, and I was in a psychology class with a recently divorced 72-year-old who was starting her life over again. I got to be surrounded by so many different people, and it was awesome. I loved it so much.”
Bedoya does not describe herself as a public speaker, but being a part of LCCC’s diverse student body solidified her belief that everyone has a story—and she knew it was time to tell hers.
“If someone would’ve told me, ‘Brittani, just do it. Just believe in yourself. Just go to college,’ I probably would’ve gone 20 years ago,” says Bedoya. “So, I decided to put pen to paper to say just that. If my words inspired even one person in that audience, then it means everything to me. ”
Shanice Clarke
Clarke’s love of singing, as well as her heart for nursing, are rooted in family tradition.
“Most of the women in my family are nurses, so the passion to help others was instilled in me from the very beginning,” says Clarke.
She completed her Associate in Applied Science in Nursing through LCCC’s LPN to RN transition program and will begin her career as a registered nurse at Tower Health’s Phoenixville Hospital on the medical surgical unit. Clarke’s prior supervisor, a graduate of the same program, inspired her to consider this next step. Clarke is grateful for her example and encouragement because it helped her realize she could continue working as an LPN while earning her degree.
“I am so excited to begin my career at a major health network, and my friends and family are so proud of this life-changing opportunity,” says Clarke.
At LCCC, she connected with the faculty and resources she needed to become a more confident nurse. Instructors took their time with complex material, and the Testing Center provided a calm, supportive environment for Clarke, who struggles with test anxiety.
In her free time, Clarke enjoys writing poetry, helping her community, spending time with her family, singing, and singing with her family.
“My singing background dates back to the humble age of four. My family is of Jamaican descent, and I sang ‘Tomorrow’ from Annie at my mom’s 40th birthday party,” says Clarke. “And I’ve been singing ever since!”
For Clarke, singing is about connecting, making others feel good, and celebrating her Jamaican culture, as well as her spouse’s Bengali Indian culture. When it came to commencement, the opportunity to be the soloist was a special occasion and a personal milestone.
She says, “I felt honored to represent my beautiful country and my nursing class. It meant the world to me to stand before more than 6,000 people and sing at the PPL Center in Allentown. Seeing the audience with their hands over their hearts, listening to me sing the National Anthem with joy, power, and pride was an out-of-body experience that I will never forget! It was such an amazing way to wrap up my nursing school career at LCCC.”
| | LCCC Announces Nearly $500k in Scholarships for Lehigh County Residents | |
Lehigh Carbon Community College announced an incredible expansion of financial support for local students. With new funding, almost $500,000 in scholarships will go to Lehigh County residents. Removing major financial barriers and opening doors to higher education and workforce training right here in our community. A large portion of the funds is dedicated to a "Second Chance" initiative for individuals who have faced incarceration or struggled with opioid use, covering 100% of tuition for high-demand workforce certifications like healthcare, IT, and commercial driving (CDL). Funding is also available for recent high school graduates looking to continue their education.
| | LCCC Students of the Year | | |
Lehigh Carbon Community College’s Student of the Year awards, selected by the LCCC Faculty Association, celebrate community builders, academic pioneers, and peer motivators. This year’s Student of the Year, Tyler Turoczy, and Early College Student of the Year, Brianna Abbott, exemplify what it means to lead with curiosity, explore your potential, and be a lifelong learner.
Tyler Turoczy
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Badminton Club, Student Government Association, History Club, Political Society, Honors in Action undergraduate research program, plus Pride Club, are among the membership roles Turoczy rolled with at LCCC. The Honors Scholar and computer science major admits he was fanatic about clubs and extracurriculars because they helped him feel connected to the campus community. He encourages students to come for their classes—and stick around to nurture meaningful friendships.
“LCCC offers a whole world of opportunity, if you allow yourself to explore it,” says Turoczy.
Turoczy is self-aware about his strengths and weaknesses, and he values club opportunities to learn from peers who could help him better understand areas like politics and history. Similarly, he knows when he’s well-suited to lead and took on executive roles with Phi Theta Kappa and the Student Government Association, serving as the vice president and finance chair respectively.
Turoczy’s recognition as Student of the Year reflects his deep commitment to student involvement, leadership, and fostering a close-knit campus community.
“It was just a wonderful experience knowing that I made a difference on campus. I was seen, and what I did mattered,” says Turoczy.
Last summer, Turoczy participated in the Bucknell Community College Scholars Program, an initiative designed for high-achieving community college students looking to leverage their associate degrees into advanced degrees. Selected for demonstrating exceptional leadership, problem-solving skills, and campus engagement, his involvement ultimately earned him the scholarship funding needed to continue his education at Bucknell University this fall.
Turoczy plans to continue focusing on computer science while branching out to learn about engineering as well.
“LCCC opened many doors for me, and I'm so excited to go to Bucknell and experience what it offers,” says Turoczy.
Brianna Abbott
Most high school students don’t complete seven college courses in their senior year, but Abbott is anything but most high school students.
Through LCCC’s Early College Program, she graduated valedictorian of Catasauqua High School with 14 college honors credits and a 4.0 G.P.A. Abbott says the high marks are great, but opportunities to explore unknowns and keep learning are what motivate her the most.
As a self-professed lover of mathematics, Abbott was seeking a peer community that matched her curiosity about all things STEM. She found it at LCCC, along with some unexpected and winning connections in the liberal arts.
“Professor Jennifer Myskowski’s speech class was really eye-opening because it broke everybody out of their shells to get them to communicate more,” says Abbott. “We were getting to know each other on a deeper level. I’m STEM-brained, and I want to do all the science and all the math, but classes like hers get you talking to people, making connections, and collaborating beyond academics.”
Experiences like this helped round out Abbott’s introduction to college at LCCC, shaping her disposition as a student leader who is curious, empathetic, and inclusive, and a make-sense honoree for Early College Student of the Year.
“I wasn't expecting it whatsoever, and when I heard my name, I was stunned in the moment. Then, I pulled myself together and walked up on stage. I saw my family cheering for me, and I was over the moon,” says Abbott.
This fall, Abbott will continue her education at Cedar Crest College. She’s counting on a future in mathematics and possibly a minor in physics. She’s not ready to pinpoint a career goal just yet, but she’s confident about the probability of amazing discoveries.
| | TWI Job Instruction Program for Spot & Tango | | |
LCCC’s Center for Workforce Development recently celebrated a major milestone with Spot & Tango, a leader in the pet food industry, as two full graduating classes successfully completed the Training Within Industry (TWI) Job Instruction program.
This customized, in-house training program for Spot & Tango’s supervisors and trainers was designed to build a culture of consistent, high-quality training across their entire workforce, bridging the gap between daily tasks and standardized operational excellence.
Through this globally recognized, battle-tested methodology, participants learned a structured, four-step method to break down jobs, analyze work processes, and deliver hands-on instruction with confidence. Delivered by LCCC’s Center for Workforce Development, this initiative equips Spot & Tango's team with the tools to reduce errors, improve quality, and accelerate employee onboarding to drive sustainable organizational growth.
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July 1- July 4 – No Daytime or Evening Classes
(Administrative Offices remain open, except July 3)
July 6 –Summer Classes Begin (5 Week Option)
July 7 –Last Day for Add/Drop or Late Registration
July 11 – Last Day to Withdraw with an Automatic “W” (10 Week Option)
July 29 – Last Day to Withdraw with an Automatic “W” (5 Week Option)
July 30 – Classes end for TR classes
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Lehigh Carbon Community College President
Dr. Ann D. Bieber
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