Dr Sylvia Mitchell is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), where she has been a staff member since 1999. Her area of specialization is Ethnobiotechnology.  She teaches undergraduate research project students, MPhils, and PhDs. Dr Mitchell's teaching abilities and innovations have been exhibited across a wide range of courses at both undergraduate and graduate levels in FST, FMS, and FSS, including Life Sciences, Chemistry, Foundation Course (FOUN1201), Agricultural Entrepreneurship, MSc Computing, and PhD Chemistry.

One of Dr Mitchell's strengths is her ability to adapt to new challenges. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and all courses had to be moved online, she designed practical interventions that students could carry out at home, such as initiating plants into tissue culture and making wine. Her availability and practical teaching approach have been invaluable, and without her input, several courses would not have had access to tissue culture plantlets for their laboratory classes.

Dr Mitchell's teaching innovations have also extended to providing clear and detailed laboratory manuals for students. This allows students to seamlessly plan their work and improves the learning experience. She is an innovative lecturer who developed a new method for students to obtain training in a safe manner after returning to the labs following the COVID-19 pandemic. This was achieved through the use of her own design of mobile micropropagation units, which have been used in several courses to increase the time students can interact on a practical level with tissue culture plantlets.

Dr. Mitchell's passion for her students' development is evident, and she exhibits a deep commitment to enabling their learning.

Follow the Faculty of Science and Technology on Instagram @uwimona_fst and on Facebook at @ The Faculty of Science and Technology, The UWI Mona. For enquiries, WhatsApp us at 1-876 552-4691, call us at 1-876-977-1785 or email us at fst@uwimona.edu.jm.