| abstract | - Francesmary Modugno has been an educator for more than 25 years. She has a deep commitment to youth and believes that with the right support, all young people can excel in whatever area they choose. This belief is rooted in her own personal experience: as the daughter of a mechanic and a homemaker, neither of whom had a high school diploma, she was determined to become a university researcher and professor. In 1995, she achieved her dream when she joined the faculty of the University of Washington. Francesmary Modugno graduated Magna Cum Laud from Cornell University with degrees in mathematics and computer science and as a general College of Arts and Sciences Scholar. She is among the first women to receive MS and Ph.D. degrees in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University, where she was one of the founders of the Andrew's Leap program for gifted students. During her graduate career she also taught at the Johns Hopkins Center for Academically Talented Youth. After a time on the faculty at the University of Washington, Dr. Modugno returned to school to refocus her research on the origin and prevention of women's cancers. As a fellow supported by the National Cancer Institute, she received her Masters in Public Health, after which she joined the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh. In addition to her research on cancer, Dr. Modugno founded and co-directed the Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Training Graduate Program at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. The program has become a leader in training graduate students in cancer research. Dr. Modugno has advised over a dozen graduate students and has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles. In November 2006, Dr. Modugno left academia to spend more time with her young family. She now runs her own consulting business that helps individuals and community organizations initiate new programs and obtain grant support. She has also become a community activist for the rights of students and their families.
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