STCC honors biology professor as Faculty of the Year

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – For Dr. Reena Randhir, science began not in a laboratory, but in the tropical gardens of her childhood home in India.

Growing up in Kovai, India, Randhir spent her days caring for plants with her mother, learning to love animals from her father and exploring the natural world with endless curiosity. She collected leaves, insects, rocks and shells, storing many of her discoveries in what she describes as a “secret museum” under her bed.

“I was simply fascinated by life,” said Randhir, associate professor of biological sciences at Springfield Technical Community College. “Looking back, those childhood experiences were my first biology lessons.”

That lifelong fascination with science, combined with a deep commitment to students and the college, recently earned Randhir one of STCC’s highest honors: Faculty of the Year.

When she learned of the recognition, Randhir said she felt disbelief, followed by overwhelming gratitude.

“This recognition is not just about me,” she said. “It represents my dear students, their hard work, their resilience and their transformation.”

At STCC, Randhir has become known not only for teaching science courses such as Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology and Cell Biology, but also for creating classrooms where students feel supported, encouraged and capable of succeeding.

“My philosophy is simple: teaching is an act of love,” Randhir said. “Meet students where they are, guide and raise them up with kindness to where they need to be.”

Students often enter biology courses intimidated by the material, she said. Randhir works intentionally to make science approachable through hands-on activities, storytelling, models, drawings, research projects and collaborative learning exercises.

“I try to create a classroom where students know they belong, where questions are welcomed, and science feels possible,” she said.

Her teaching philosophy was shaped early in life by influential mentors, including teachers in India who encouraged her curiosity and academic growth. Randhir earned degrees from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University before coming to the United States to pursue a doctorate in cell and molecular biology at Purdue University.

My philosophy is simple: teaching is an act of love. Meet students where they are, guide and raise them up with kindness to where they need to be. Dr. Reena Randhir, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at STCC

She arrived in the United States through a Rotary scholarship as a Youth Ambassador of Goodwill and Freedom from Hunger Scholar, opportunities that transformed her life and broadened her perspective on education and service.

Eventually, her journey brought her to STCC, where she found a mission closely aligned with her values.

“STCC serves diverse students who balance work, family, financial challenges and personal responsibilities,” Randhir said. “I came to STCC because I found a community where I could give that same learning and opportunity back to my students.”

Beyond the classroom, Randhir has become a prominent campus leader through her work advising Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for community college students.

Under her leadership, STCC’s Alpha Psi Sigma chapter experienced extraordinary growth, rising from a one-star chapter to a five-star chapter in a single semester before being recognized as the Most Distinguished Chapter of 2026.

“What followed is one of the most meaningful experiences of my career,” Randhir said. “When students are trusted, guided and loved, they do not just participate; they soar.”

Randhir also organizes the Sustainathon, STCC’s annual Earth Day-inspired sustainability event that now brings together hundreds of students, educators, and community organizations to promote environmental awareness and action.

For Randhir, both PTK and Sustainathon reflect a central belief that students learn best when they see themselves not just as learners, but as leaders and scholars capable of making a difference.

One of the moments she treasures most involved a student from South America who initially struggled in Anatomy and Physiology because English was not her first language. The student often came to office hours in tears, overwhelmed by the material.

But through persistence, support and determination, the student eventually presented research at the UMass Undergraduate Research Conference and later invited Randhir to her Surgical Technology pinning ceremony.

“That message touched my heart deeply,” Randhir said. “For me, that is what teaching is all about. It is not only about learning but walking with students through fear until they discover their own strength.”

Colleagues and students describe Randhir as energetic, compassionate and deeply committed to student success. She is quick to credit others — administrators, coworkers, staff members and students themselves — for helping create the supportive environment she values at STCC.

“As an immigrant, STCC holds a special place in my heart,” she said. “It feels like family — all working together to help students transform their lives.”

Dr. Christopher Thuot, Vice President of Academic Affairs, says Randhir brings remarkable energy, enthusiasm and curiosity to her work with our students. 

“She is an ambitious faculty leader who helps STCC meet its strategic goals through events such as our annual Sustainathon, an initiative that supports the college's commitment to helping lead the Western Massachusetts educational ecosystem,” Thuot said. “She has propelled the College's Phi Theta Kappa chapter to national recognition, providing our high-achieving students with opportunities for service, scholarship and community. For her work in the classroom and across the campus community, Dr. Randhir is so very deserving of this recognition."

Even after receiving Faculty of the Year honors, Randhir remains focused on the same mission that first inspired her as a curious child exploring nature in India: helping others discover possibility through science, education and hope.

“Their transformation is the real honor,” she said. “I am simply grateful that I was given the privilege to walk beside them for part of their journey.”

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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