Cindy Quezada
We Dare You!
Break the Mold
Cindy's diverse interests and bold choices have made her the well-rounded person she is today. Spice up your life by trying something new or exploring a passion that sparks your interest. It doesn’t have to be huge—even small changes can push you out of your comfort zone. These ideas will get you started so you can get out there and shake things up!
Take a different route
Do you always drive the same highway, use the same subway, or walk the same blocks when going to work? Try another route for a week. It may seem small, but changing your routine will shift your perspective, and you never know what new experience is waiting around a different corner.
Taste a new cuisine
Plan an exotic meal for dinner one night and cook something you’ve never dared to try before. Think Indian, Portuguese, Greek, or Thai. (check www.recipezaar.com for recipes) Get in the spirit and play music to go along with your exotic dishes. You may like the food so much it will inspire you to plan a trip to the country of your choice. Bon appétit!
Enroll in a class or workshop
Have you got a secret desire just dying to be let out? Whether it’s rock climbing, salsa dancing, knitting, or playing the harmonica, register for a beginner class and learn the basics. If you find you love it, keep on going—exploring your inner-passions is a great way to relieve stress and to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Change up your look
A quick and easy way to spice things up is by experimenting with your style. Remember nothing is permanent so why not give something bold a try--buy that fabulous hot pink trench coat, go for the dark nail polish, or ask for a chic, new haircut.
The Art of Science
May 2010
Cindy Quezada is not your average scientist. This flamenco dancer/photographer/world traveler is challenging the everyday misconceptions that surround Academia. “People think if you’re a scientist, you’re a boring social recluse mixing liquids in a dark basement somewhere,” she jokes. “I apparently don’t fit this stereotype, and people are always surprised when they find out all the things I’ve done.” Her diverse interests have taken her to India to photograph tigers in their natural habitat, to Spain for flamenco lessons and to war-torn Rwanda to head up a research project.
As the 2005 recipient of the L’Oreal-UNESCO Women in Science Fellowship, Cindy was awarded $20,000 which she used to fund the diagnosis of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis in Africa. Despite power outages and a lack of proper equipment, her team found great success with their diagnostic test, and their findings were ultimately published in The Journal of Clinical Microbiology. The trip was a life-altering experience and one that Cindy says put her problems into perspective. “I cried everyday the first week I was there. It was so overwhelming for me. I don’t think I met one person who had an intact family, yet I was astounded by their ability to move on after so much sorrow. Whatever worries I had suddenly seemed small in comparison,” she recalls. In between her work battling tuberculosis, the 34-year old spent time at the local orphanage making friends with the children, an experience which inspired her to think about how adoption may fit into her future.
Cindy felt a sense of connection to the young people of Rwanda. In 1980, at the age of 9, her family fled their home in El Salvador during the civil war and came to California to start a new life. Ever since then, this Fulbright Scholar has had an appreciation for International Relations and a desire to help those in underdeveloped countries.
This well-rounded woman also aims to fight back against science’s often nerdy reputation by engaging the younger generations. Her efforts involve speaking at schools, creating content for the kid-friendly website Talking Science and collaborating on Entertaining Science, a monthly cabaret show that takes place in Greenwich Village, NYC. As an experienced emcee, Cindy integrates her expertise with her avid artistry. When speaking, she relates scientific discoveries back to one of her passions, the traditional Spanish flamenco dance. “Science and the arts don’t need to be separated. In fact, mixing the two gets kids more interested, because the material is presented in a fun, more accessible manner,” she explains.
The scientist discovered her flair for flamenco, while working on her doctoral thesis. “When I feel pressured, I tend to assess my life and think about what I have always wanted to do. And then I do it,” she says. “Writing a thesis can be stressful, but I would come back to the lab after dance class with a beaming smile and the motivation to work.” Flamenco held such an important place that Cindy even thanked her first teacher, Clarita in her thesis acknowledgements saying she couldn’t have done it without her! Cindy’s adoration has grown into a full-fledged love affair. This past summer, she fine-tuned her flamenco in Seville, before returning to the states to get back to business at a new job for the State Department.