In the late fall semester of 2016, Margarita Banquero became the newest member of the MSMS science faculty.
Baquero teaches AP Biology, Cell Biology, and Genetics.
“I’m enjoying [working here] a lot,” said Baquero. “It’s nice to know that the students are listening to what I am saying and they really, really care.”
Baquero is originally from Ecuador, and has taught and worked in South America, Europe, and the United States.
“I worked for the Ecuadorian government as a biologist at the environmental ministry, and I remember when I was there I felt this feeling of boredom,” she said. “I don’t feel that at MSMS. The students here are constantly challenging me, which is nice.”
Baquero holds a BS in biology from Pontifica Universidad Católica del Ecuador, a Masters in ecology from Universidad San Francisco (also in Ecuador), and a Masters in biology from Mississippi State University.
“She offers a new perspective and that is extremely refreshing,” said long-time MSMS biology instructor Dr. Bill Odom. “More than that, she has the most recent research experience of any of the science faculty, which means her head is still in that realm of doing real science.”
Baquero’s Master’s thesis focused upon speciation, and she says she would love one day to teach a class at MSMS about the subject.
She came to MSMS after Christiana Wagner left the MSMS faculty in the fall of 2016. While anxious at first, she says the school’s students quickly put her mind at ease.
“I’ve been impressed at how respectful the students are to me,” said Baquero. “I came in the middle of the semester and was very nervous, but the students have been very supportive.”