Faith Zamamiri-Davis
Associate Professor of Biology
Faith Zamamiri-Davis, associate professor of biology, knew she wanted to work in the realm of medicine ever since she was a little girl.
Growing up, her father suffered from a chronic kidney disease that required dialysis by the time he was in his 20s. Since his condition required her to spend lots of time in hospitals and around medical equipment, Zamamiri-Davis became comfortable in the medical environment and wanted to eventually give back to the people and industry that helped her father.
When she went to college, Zamamiri-Davis received her undergraduate degree in biology, intending to go to medical school. But after taking a gap year, she decided to pursue graduate school at Penn State University. Once she earned her doctorate in pathobiology, Zamamiri-Davis moved to Memphis with her husband鈥檚 job and discovered Union through a friend at church. She eventually applied for her current position at Union鈥檚 Germantown campus.
Now working with the College of Nursing at Germantown, Zamamiri-Davis primarily teaches pathophysiology, a course that she says easily integrates faith into its curriculum. She enjoys explaining God鈥檚 design of the body and its protective nature against diseases, and she says that Union鈥檚 stance on a Christ-centered education makes that integration possible.
Alongside Union鈥檚 supportive and welcoming community 鈥 something that distinguishes the university鈥檚 environment from other competitive schools 鈥 Zamamiri-Davis appreciates that Union does not compromise its academic rigor to integrate faith in the classroom. Through Union鈥檚 excellent, Christ-centered education, she believes her students will be better equipped to carry their faith into their 海角乱伦社区.
鈥淧art of that faith and learning is understanding that they carry the excellence in the education that they gained at Union,鈥 Zamamiri-Davis said. 鈥淏ut they鈥檙e also carrying the love of God and being the hands and feet of Christ in their profession.鈥
In the past few years, Zamamiri-Davis has also been appointed to serve on Union鈥檚 racial reconciliation initiative committee. As a woman of color, Zamamiri-Davis sees her appointment as a God-given sign that she is at Union for a reason. She also appreciates Union鈥檚 dedication to combining racial reconciliation with the gospel and making an effort to expand representation so that every student feels seen.
鈥淪ome of the things I鈥檝e gone through in my life and some of the challenges I鈥檝e faced have prepared me to serve in this way,鈥 Zamamiri-Davis said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the perfect arena for me to be my whole self.鈥
Further, Zamamiri-Davis hopes that her students leave her classroom with an expanded view of God in every class that she teaches, showing that he is greater, bigger and closer than they could ever imagine.
鈥淪cience can be an intimidating subject,鈥 Zamamiri-Davis said. 鈥淏ut when you begin to grasp all that we can鈥檛 grasp as humans, then you have no choice but to expand your faith in God.鈥