Dr. Kate Brilakis

kbril875@cccc.edu

katebrilakis@gmail.com
​www.katebrilakis.com​
​text: 703.498.9997  ​

                                                                   
     I've enjoyed teaching General Biology, Microbiology, Anatomy and Physiology, Human Genetics, General Genetics and Natural Science at various colleges and universities for over 35 years including UMd, CNU, UDC, CCC, VBCC, NCC, NVCC, ACC, DTCC and CCCC...whew, that's a lot of letters ;). I am also an Army veteran. Prior to becoming an educator, I was a research associate in microbial genetics in the Biological Chemistry Department of Walter Reed Army Institute for Research in NW DC. I was serving as an active-duty soldier at the time, completing field medic training prior to being assigned to my Walter Reed research team.
    
     As the spouse of a Marine who served 40 years on active duty, I moved around quite a bit, living throughout the U.S. as well as in Europe and Asia. I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunity to teach at every duty station we were assigned, hence all of the letters. It was a great journey!    
    
     I’ve also been a student for most of my life. I was in my fifties when I earned my doctorate at George Mason University. It took me over a decade to complete the coursework and then research, write and defend my dissertation since we transferred to a new duty station six times while working on that degree. I was in my thirties when I earned my Master's degree from GMU in Molecular/Cell Biology, only moving three times during that degree process and transferring schools twice. My undergraduate degree, a BS in Cell Biology with a minor in Education, was earned at Lafayette College along with a Certificate of Education in Science = my teaching license. 
​I clearly remember being a student while also working and taking care of our family while my spouse was deployed. It was...challenging. My little kids going "mommymommmmmy" while I was trying to study and prepare lesson plans was a part of life back then.
As a result, my family refers to me as their poster child for life-long education.
    
     We moved to Hillsborough, NC in 2020 when Mark retired from the Marines and are tickled to be putting down roots after decades of relocations. Moving so often was demanding but it also allowed us the opportunity to experience so many different cultures. 
Now settled in NC, I am grateful we discovered Hillsborough and its ​welcoming community.

I'm an avid volunteer in my community, both with the Hillsborough Arts Council, the Orange County Democrats and our local rec/senior center where I teach a science literacy program.     
     
     For fun, I ride my mares Fiona and Jennie, continue my battles of wills with our donkey Shameless, swim, dance, hike, throw clay on my potter's wheel and travel.    
And every morning, after I finish my barn chores, I get to giggle at the antics of my delightful chickens...    
   
      My four kids all graduated with BS degrees from Virginia Tech. They were also able to advance their education by taking community college classes (as did I) so we as a family respect and appreciate the opportunities community colleges offer. 
​I applaud you for recognizing the value of our state's awesome community colleges.