Every Saint Has a Story: Gabby Dowdall G'27

Gabby Dowdall G'27 has an everyday study buddy. It's a blessing, but an exhausting one.

Gabby never misses class, even on Fridays when ditching can be especially tempting. But on Friday, October 31 last year, Abby was a no-show for one of the final courses she needed to wrap up her bachelor's in English at SUNY New Paltz. As far as excuses go, labor induction is a pretty good one.

"I went to the hospital on Friday and Maisie was born the next day. The day after that, I registered for my spring semester classes at Siena from my hospital bed. My advisor thought I was nuts, but I didn't want to risk missing the deadline. I was back in class at New Paltz three days later."

Gabby graduated in December with a degree and a six-week old. By then, she knew she wanted to be a teacher, and she had already been accepted to Siena, her dream school - the one she wanted to attend as an undergraduate, but couldn't afford.

"Honestly, I despised my parents for a little bit when they told me Siena wasn't an option after high school. I had applied without touring just because I knew that's where I wanted to be."

Nothing was going to keep the Cairo, NY native from Siena the second time around, including round the clock feedings.

"I was just too worried that if I took a break, I wouldn't have continued with school. It is so hard, but it is also so rewarding."

Gabby is working toward her Master of Arts in Teaching and frequently Zooms into class with Maisie in her lap. The nine-month old has become a sensation within the program.

"Maisie has been growing up with my classmates. She knows my professors. She's not yet a year old, and she's working on her master's! The faculty have all be so accommodating. They love having her around."

Gabby is focused on teaching high school English, and specifically, she'd like to get certified to teach students with disabilities. Gabby says there aren't a lot of teachers with disabilities, so for students, seeing someone like themselves in the classroom can make a big difference. For Gabby, it's personal: She has autism.

"I was a teenager when I was finally diagnosed, and it was such a relief. Once I had access to the resources I needed, I started doing much better in school. I went from Bs to all As."

On September 10, Gabby and Liam will celebrate their one-year anniversary - they pushed up their original wedding date so that Gabby would share a last name with her daughter the day she was born. Next year, Gabby will graduate with her master's, and then she hopes to score a teaching job in the Rochester area next fall.

"Education has always been my calling. Ultimately, I'd like to be a professor. I just love helping people. When you can explain something to someone and all of a sudden, it clicks. That moment can change the trajectory of their life."

Just imagine how many students' lives will change if they're lucky enough to be in Mrs. Dowdall's class?