Jackie Shay
She/Her
I am bi and I am a fungal ecologist.//
I love understanding how species interact to collaborate in nature. I study plant-fungal symbiotic interactions and how they work together to alleviate environmental stress, like drought. I have transferred these questions to the classroom where I design, implement, and study equitable pedagogical strategies.
I began my journey in biology as an inaugural undergraduate at UC Merced. After graduating, I joined Peace Corps Morocco and served as a youth development volunteer, teaching students in rural communities about health care, advocacy, and leadership. I was enamored by the Mediterranean plants and fungi in the Atlas Mountains and pursued a Master’s in Mycology at San Francisco State University. I raised my own money to conduct fieldwork in Madagascar, discovering 5 new species of mushrooms along the way. I earned my Ph.D. in Quantitative and Systems Biology back at UC Merced where I studied fungal and bacterial endophytes in native Monkeyflowers of the Sierra Nevada. All along, I engaged in learning evidenced-based pedagogy to create inclusive spaces for all people to learn.
Outside of academia, I am a mother of two and love spending quality time outdoors, and cuddling up to watch movies.