Nyasha Gondora wins Canada’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch award

Dr. Nyasha Gondora (PhD ’20) has been honored with the prestigious Canada's 2024 Top 100 Black Women to Watch award for her outstanding contributions. Canada International Black Women Excellence (CIBWE) recognizes Black Canadian women who are making a difference in their communities and professions.

Moving from Zimbabwe to Texas to Kitchener-Waterloo, Gondora’s journey instilled in her courage, adaptability and a deep appreciation for community.

“I was raised to value education and to make the most of every opportunity,” Gondara says.

This drive for education led her to become the first Black PhD graduate of the University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy in 2020. During her time at Waterloo , Gondora was the recipient of eight awards and scholarships including the Special Merit Award for Substantial Impact on Pharmacy Research Mission and the Donald J. and Kathleen D. McDougall Graduate Scholarship for her outstanding contributions to the program, community service and leadership. Gondora was also the first PhD student from the School of Pharmacy to win first place in the Faculty of Science, Three Minute Thesis competition in 2017.

“Looking back at my time as a PhD student, I am grateful for the phenomenal mentorship and support I received from my research supervisors Drs. Mike Beazley and John G Mielke,” Gondora says. “They not only cared about my work but supported my full professional development.”

Gondora attests to the tight-knit community at Waterloo Pharmacy’s graduate program and speaks on the value of diverse people coming together to learn from one another and benefit from each other’s experiences. “It was an environment where my unique value was recognized,” she explains.

Her PhD research focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the impact of stress on the brain. Her research showed that stress impacts the expression of certain neuronal receptors in a sex-specific manner. “My time at Waterloo Pharmacy taught me resilience, how to evaluate problems from multiple perspectives and how to communicate my scientific findings to different stakeholders,” Gondora says.

In 2022, she was selected for the highly competitive Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Fellowship that aims to provide policy training to scientists in order to build the Canadian science policy landscape. Gondora currently works for the federal government at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, where she is an analyst on the clinical trials team.

She channeled her passion for mentorship and coaching into her role at BeMo Academic Consulting, where for more than five years, she has helped more than 750 people in their journey to postgraduate programs. “Having walked a similar path, I understand the barriers candidates face so helping others achieve their dreams has been a profound way for me to give back,” Gondora says.

“This award means a lot to me. I appreciate the acknowledgement, and it gives me the opportunity to shine the spotlight on the amazing organizations I’ve had the opportunity to work with,” she adds.

Gondora’s passion for education also shines in her volunteer work. Her focus on giving back to communities and helping young people in the academic space aligns with her values and has been impactful.

She is a current board member with Boy with a Ball (BWAB), a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth in underserved communities. With offices across the globe, BWAB is making a worldwide impact and has served 50,000 young people to date. BWAB has been recognized for their Love Your City development model which has lifted low-income communities out of poverty. “BWAB has an incredibly passionate and talented team and I’m proud to be a part of this organization,” she says.

Gondora also served on the national executive council of the Canadian Scientific and Christian Affiliation (CSCA) for three years. The CSCA is a faith-based, science organization which has 11 chapters across seven provinces in Canada. Gondora has led the CSCA Waterloo chapter for the past four years.

Gondora would like to acknowledge her family, and most notably her parents, George and Evamary Gondora, who have encouraged her and supported her and continue to push her to achieve her best. She also gives thanks to her supportive mentors and the communities that have welcomed her and granted her the opportunity to serve.

“To all the young Black girls who doubt themselves, surround yourself with people who see your value and your worth. They will remind you of your strengths when you doubt yourself,” Gondora says. There may always be certain narratives around you, but in the right community with the right people there’s encouragement and a reminder that nothing is impossible.”

There may always be certain narratives around you, but in the right community with the right people there’s encouragement and a reminder that nothing is impossible.