Rebecca Sheller, associate professor of biology at Southwestern University, is much more than a teacher. She is a poet, a photographer, an athlete, a lover of nature and a Southwestern alumna. Raised in Corpus Christi, she grew up in an integrated neighborhood that many referred to as the "bad" part of town. "The description was naive and perhaps racist/classist because I never encountered a threatening situation and immensely enjoyed my friendships in the integrated environment," she says. With the encouragement of an adventurous, loving family, she engaged in a variety of activities, including academics, sports and civic organizations. Sheller graduated valedictorian of her high school class, but felt that her real-life experiences were most valuable.

Sheller learned of Southwestern during her senior year of high school. She was lured by the prospect of the University's high academic standards and the possibility of playing varsity tennis. She tried out for the tennis team in 1978 and played tennis during her four years at Southwestern, while earning a B.S. in biology with a minor in chemistry.

While attending graduate school at The University of Texas at Austin, Sheller discovered a passion for teaching. "Originally, teaching assistantships were a practical method of funding graduate school, but I found that I had a talent for creating road maps for students to navigate relatively complex biological topics. Most importantly, I found that I enjoyed helping students to grow intellectually." Her return to Southwestern as a professor involved a great deal of serendipity. "The short version of the history is that SU's biology department was searching for a neurobiologist at the exact same time that I was seeking a tenure-track faculty position," explains Sheller.

The transition from Southwestern alumna to professor was not difficult for Sheller. She found her former instructors, coaches and mentors to be very encouraging. It was the transition from performing full-time research in cellular neurobiology to teaching full-time in a wide variety of biological areas that Sheller found most difficult.

Weaving her knowledge, experience and interest in cellular neurobiology with her passion to educate, Sheller continues to conduct research and provides Southwestern students the opportunity to collaborate. Most of the projects have focused on the severance of neurons and their potential for regeneration. "My students and I are able to study an identifiable cell in the crayfish central nervous system that does not degenerate until almost a year after severance. We use biochemical and electrophysiological techniques to collect the data for the research," she explains.

Sheller has served as chair of the Biology Department for five years and was selected to be a Paideia® Professor. With the help of the Paideia® Program, she believes that Scholars can find an abundance of opportunities to help them guide their own education at Southwestern. Sheller says, "I hope that Scholars take advantage of their group encounters and allow themselves to be inspired by their fellow group members and professor-facilitator."

Sheller enjoys many activities other than neuroscience, biology and teaching. "I find a great deal of peace at my south Austin home spending time with my life partner, Myron Smith, who I have known for over 30 years," says Sheller. She spends as much time outdoors as possible working in the yard and caring for their four dogs and one cat along with three adopted neighborhood cats. Sheller often enjoys writing poetry and taking photographs of flowers, and, in the summer months, she swims frequently.