Occupation: I am a professor of biology at Fairfield University and former head of the department there. I teach molecular biology, immunology, and virology.

Family: My husband, Kevin, is a practicing dentist here in Newtown for over 30 years. We have been married for 34 years. My son, Ryan, is 27. He just graduated from medical school and will be interning in surgery at Mt Sinai Hospital. Jessica is 21 and a sociology major at Fairfield University, and she is in the cast of Aida at Warner Theater in Torrington.

Pets: We’ve had Shih Tzu dogs, about ten of them, over our married life. Right now, we have Yoshi, who was a rescue dog. She’s 9 years old. And we have Kenji, who is just a year and a half old.

How long have you lived in Newtown? I have lived here since 1978. My husband’s family has been here since the 1930s.

What do you like to do in your free time? Part of my free time I have to do research, and I’ve written over 50 research papers. I also have been with the adult group at Lathrop School of Dance for over 20 years, and I’ve taken singing lessons for about seven years. I’m in the Newtown Choral Society. I also like interior design and landscaping. And I read.

What do you like to read? Scientific journals, for one. And I like well done science writing, and fiction. Robin Cook is one of my favorite authors and I just found James Rollins, who wrote The Judas Strain. For real fun, I like Patterson and Evanovich. I assign myself a classic to read every summer, and this summer I’ll be reading Uncle Tom’s Cabin, which I have never read. It’s really different reading some of the classics as an adult.

Do you have a favorite travel destination? I like Florida, but my favorite place is St Martin’s. It’s half Dutch, half French, and I love the culture. It’s a very international island.

What is the best thing about Newtown? I really enjoy the rural atmosphere that we still have. People are very friendly and very generous with their time here, too. It’s a good place to raise a family.

What is the biggest change you have seen in Newtown? There is actually less ruralness than there was, and we miss that. The surrounding towns are starting to encroach on us.

Do you have a hero? Barbara McClintock, who was a scientist, and who lived here. She was ridiculed for years for her scientific thought, but she never gave up. She won the Nobel Prize.

Do you have a personal philosophy? Make every moment count. There is nothing you can’t do if you try.

What is the most surprising thing you have done? Taking singing lesson is so off, so “not me.” And the dancing. If my students could see me….