Myrna Canizares
Research Administrator
Prince Lab, Stanford Neurology
Myrna Canizares, Research Administrator at Stanford Neurology
"I joined the Neurology Department in 1990 and worked with David Prince and John Huguenard as their administrative assistant. I appreciate the recognition of my 30 years of working in this department, the wonderful experience, team camaraderie and professionalism. It has been quite an amazing journey."
Myrna Canizares has lived in the Bay Area for 40 years, 32 of them alongside the world-renowned doctors she worked with at Stanford Medicine. A testament of her loyalty and dedication to her Stanford career is her retirement after 32 years in the laboratory of Dr. David Prince and John Huguenard, in the Department of Neurology, where she takes pride, albeit in the background, in their groundbreaking research in epilepsy. The retirement is bittersweet as she looks forward to a new phase in her life while she anticipates missing Stanford and the many opportunities the university brings to its employees.
“I’d like to always remind new employees to take advantage of the many resources on campus, such as our $800 STAP funds. Stanford is an incredible place to work in, and I have been truly blessed to be a part of this amazing community,” Myrna explains.
A co-chair of FACS for many years before her retirement this year, Myrna helped in the transition of new leaders five years ago. She focused on her work with the Neurology department, and raising a son, Miko, who followed her footsteps and is now working at Stanford, too.
Myrna fondly remembers the many programs that FACS was involved in with students at the Pilipino American Student Union (PASU). FACS partnered with PASU in their annual May festivities and Simbang Gabi (Midnight Mass), an annual holiday celebration that highlights traditional activities during the Yuletide season. She is glad that the Simbang Gabi tradition continues to this day, when one special evening in December, Fil-am staff and students craving for a taste of home share a Filipino "noche buena" feast with the campus community.
From book clubs to bringing Filipino-American authors to the campus, and professional development activities like resume building and networking, FACS in the last decade have had its share of active volunteer members. As the main campus began expanding exponentially, first with offices in Porter Drive, and later, in Redwood City, it became more challenging for FACS members and leaders to get together regularly. The new normal the campus is experiencing as it slowly reopens because of the pandemic will bring more challenges and opportunities for FACS to help build community at Stanford.
We thank Myrna for her dedication to Stanford, and for the hard work and energy she has brought to our community as a FACS leader!