The granddaughter of a doctor, Marcy was born into a medical family who always encouraged her ambitions and interest. Her pathway to eye banking is a deeply personal one—when her mother passed away while Marcy was only 17, her family donated her corneas and her brain. Marcy recalls getting her driver’s license the year before her mother’s death and talking with her about her thoughts about donation. Having already had that discussion and understanding her wishes made it easy for her family to give the gift of sight to someone else. This ignited Marcy’s passion for working with donor families throughout her life; she has had the privilege to work with countless families over her 21-year career.

Working in hospitals since she was 14, Marcy’s educational and geographic trajectory landed her in various different roles and in multiple states across the country. She’s grateful for the bounty of opportunities she’s earned, and encourages young people early in their careers to be open to different possibilities. “You never know where science may lead you,” she said. “Work hard and you never know what chances may come your way.”

Marcy was fortunate to have women as mentors in her career, especially in a world that is traditionally dominated by men. She credits Susie Ball, a colleague turned friend, as being an advocate and support system for her.

Like most women, Marcy encountered her fair share of sexism along the way. Beyond dealing with overtly inappropriate behavior, more frequently she faced intimidating scenarios as the only woman in the room, including working with an entirely male Board of Directors when she first started at Dakota Lions Sight & Health.

If provided with a time machine, Marcy only wishes she could go back and take school “a bit more seriously.” As a young wife and mother, juggling motherhood simultaneously with college courses was no easy feat.

Today, Marcy is a proud mother of two daughters, one son and six grandchildren. Both daughters are in healthcare. She wants young women and girls to know that there are no barriers to what they can achieve. “Follow your passion and know how to spot potential opportunities and don’t be afraid to grasp opportunities that arise,” is some of her advice.

This article was provided by "The Eye Bank Association of American, Women in Stem"