Title: Adjunct Associate Professor
Company: Columbia University
Location: Southport, Connecticut, United States
Dr. Yasmin E. von Schirnding, adjunct associate professor at Columbia University, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in environmental health.
Drawing on nearly 40 years of expertise in environmental health, Dr. von Schirnding currently serves as an adjunct associate professor at Columbia University, a role she has held since 2017. Her academic career includes time as an adjunct associate professor at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. In 1992, Dr. von Schirnding held the position of director of environmental health for the city of Johannesburg. She bolstered her reputation in the field as a specialist scientist and chief medical researcher for the Research Institute for Environmental Diseases in Cape Town, South Africa. Across more than 10 years, Dr. von Schirnding offered guidance to the World Health Organization’s Healthy Environments for Children Alliance, performing her duties in a variety of capacities, including interim director and manager. In her early career, she contributed as a research associate and a scientific research officer at the University of Cape Town.
Dr. von Schirnding’s success is backed up by an equally impressive education. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in environmental science from the University of Cape Town in 1979, returning to the same academic institution in 1982 for a Master of Science. Dr. von Schirnding also holds a master’s degree in sustainability from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Science in medical science from Stellenbosch University, where she graduated with honors in 1984. She earned a PhD in environmental health and epidemiology from the University of Cape Town in 1988. Dr. von Schirnding is also certified as a registered medical scientist through the South African Medical and Dental Council and as a registered environmental scientist through the Southern African Institute of Ecologists and Environmental Scientists.
Dr. von Schirnding credits her achievements to a mix of hard work, luck and passion for her field, alongside encouragement from her mentors. Outside of her career, she enjoys singing, playing guitar, listening to classical music, reading and photography. Looking to the future, Dr. von Schirnding aims to continue building on her work as a professor while also participating in more non-governmental organization initiatives. She hopes to make an impact on the world by teaching the next generation about climate change. Additionally, Dr. von Schirnding is dedicated to her own continued involvement in grassroots activities and local politics, all with the intention of promoting a sustainable future.
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