You have 0 items in your cart
“Since this honor, I contemplated the profound influence of the excellent teachers I had at CHHS, and am amazed to discover their daily continuing influence on my life. Likely their inspiration seeded my being an educator for 37 years. They were magnificent models of engagement, passion, expertise and caring. I am touched and grateful to be given this honor.”
Dr. Cheryl Sundari Dembe’s 37-year career was as a Chemistry Professor at Diablo Valley College, where she was the first woman department head and the first woman Division Chair of the Physical Science and Engineering Department. She holds degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Physics from the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago. Though she completed her research in superfluidity in 1971, her degree was not granted by The University of Chicago until 2018, due to gender issues. As Dr. Dembe was writing up her research, her advisor passed away suddenly. The next advisor refused a woman in his group. She was told to start her 4 1/2 years of work anew, with a different project and sponsor. Two years after she would have published, Douglas Osheroff at Cornell published very similar research, and won the Nobel. Dr. Dembe’s research is touted by The University of Chicago as “not being far off from the same result… Had she been able to work a few more months, it would have not only been good for her, but good for Chicago.” The research had implications for explaining the plasmatic nature of the universe the moment after the Big Bang.
Cheryl sang at CHHS, with SF Opera, Oakland Symphony, Oakland Ballet, at an Oakland A’s game, the Democratic National Convention, and Carnegie Hall. She taught meditation, enneagram, and esoteric practices in varied local and international settings. She has practiced six religions, never leaving any, and is aligned with nondualism. She has been a psychic, healer and tantric assistant. She runs working ranches, functions as a Planetary Caretaker, and has been to 45 countries, often with groups of ‘Lightworkers’. She is widowed with two adult children and a granddaughter.
Bachelor of Science – The University of Michigan
Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science – The University of Chicago
Emeritus Chemistry Professor