Waterloo Pharmacy alum recognized for contribution to community and profession
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.”