Zandra Harris Pinnix ’95

For Zandra Harris Pinnix ’95, education is more than achievement; it’s a responsibility. As an assistant professor and director of the STEM Academic Fellows Program at Guilford College, she uses her passion and experience in science, faith and leadership to build pathways for students from all walks of life. 

“UNCW gave me a foundation that still shapes everything I do,” said Pinnix, who was previously a lecturer in the Department of Biology and Marine Biology until 2024. “It taught me balance, perseverance and how to think critically about problems and people.” 

After earning her bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from UNCW, Pinnix continued her academic journey with an master’s in chemistry from North Carolina A&T, a doctorate in biochemistry and molecular biology from Wake Forest University School of Medicine, an Ed.D. in Christian education from Andersonville Theological Seminary and an Ed.M. in higher education leadership from Harvard University, where she earned a perfect 4.0 GPA. 

Her fascination with cancer research began at UNCW. “In a biology class, I encountered the words oncogene, cancer and metastasis,” she said. “It was as if those words lifted off the page. The more I investigated these terms, the more I was enthralled with the pursuit of cancer research, igniting the passion that would shape my master’s, Ph.D. work and much of my career.”  

Her groundbreaking research on ferroportin and breast cancer, published in Science Translational Medicine, revealed new insights into aggressive forms of the disease. “That discovery showed me what’s possible when persistence meets purpose,” she said. “The resilience I learned at UNCW carried me through years of research and countless experiments.” 

At Guilford College, Pinnix combines her scientific expertise and leadership training to empower first-generation and underrepresented students in STEM. “I know what it feels like to be the only Black woman in a research space,” she said. “That’s why I’ve made it my mission to ensure students don’t just survive in these environments; they thrive.” 

She also co-founded Appian Hive, a digital marketplace that connects higher education professionals to share resources, mentor others and create equitable innovation. “My education taught me that knowledge is meant to be shared,” she said. “Leadership is about service, using what you’ve learned to uplift others.” 

Looking back, Pinnix credits her journey at UNCW for more than academic success. “That’s where I learned to turn challenges into motivation and knowledge into action,” she said. “Every role I’ve had since, from researcher to professor to entrepreneur, has been about applying those lessons to help others rise.” 

As a former Seahawk basketball player, Pinnix said her time as a student-athlete taught her discipline and focus. “My coaches always emphasized that I was a student first, athlete second,” she said. “Balancing practices, travel and labs required structure and self-awareness — skills that still define my work today.”