“You couldn’t go a single class without hearing ‘SO exciting!!’” Abigail Wiener (‘28), a current Honors Chemistry student, said. “Her enthusiasm made everything more interesting.” The phrase is impossible to miss in Chemistry Teacher Dr. Pamela Reynold’s classroom — Whether students are doing a complex lab, asking questions during office hours, or deciphering challenging concepts, Dr. Reynolds brings the same constant energy, encouragement, and joy to learning.

After 17 years at Bishop’s, Dr. Reynolds is retiring, leaving behind a classroom culture and community that many students say shaped their experience far beyond chemistry.

Maia Salami (‘27), who has Dr. Reynolds as an advisor and an Honors Chemistry teacher, described her class as both demanding and incredibly rewarding. Like many students, Maia initially felt overwhelmed by the complexities of chemistry. 

What made that challenge meaningful, Maia explained, was the consistent support. Whether it was staying after school or working through problems one-on-one, Dr. Reynolds made it clear that she was invested in her students’ growth. “She really wanted you to understand,” Maia said. “She pushed me to be the best student that I could be.”

Maia remembers that during one office hours session before a test, she sat with Dr. Reynolds, working through practice problems. Rather than rushing through the material, Dr. Reynolds stayed with her step by step, helping her break down the equations and think through each part of the problem out loud. As Maia slowly figured out the process, Dr. Reynolds continued encouraging her the entire time. 

“She was a hard teacher,” Maia said. “But I think I learned the most from her class.”

Beyond shaping students’ experiences, Dr Reynolds’ enthusiasm also shaped many popular courses at Bishop’s. She created the fan favorite Food Science course, inspired by a national sustainability and food education program she attended at the Stone Barns Institute in New York. Wanting to bring “food into the classroom,” she developed a curriculum that combines chemistry, biology, sustainability, and real-world applications through hands-on cooking labs and discussions about climate change, agriculture, and social justice. 

“There’s lots of nuance in chocolate,” Dr. Reynolds said while describing one of her favorite units, which explores cacao farming, climate change, and human trafficking in the chocolate industry. Students also study topics such as breadmaking, emulsions, and pastries before applying scientific concepts directly in the kitchen. “You can use your chemistry and your biology in the kitchen to your advantage,” she said. “We have a lot of fun with it.”

Dr. Reynolds arrived at Bishop’s in 2008, but her story with science started much earlier. Growing up in the foothills outside Sacramento, she spent her childhood exploring the outdoors, collecting samples of dirt, and examining them under a microscope. “From a very early age, that was sort of my go-to,” she said. “Science was always in nature.”

She eventually earned her Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), completed postdoctoral research in Michigan, and worked as a research assistant at the Salk Institute. But teaching was not originally the plan. Still, it kept finding her. Whether it was mentoring students in research labs or teaching as an undergraduate, Dr. Reynolds realized she “had a calling without knowing for sure.”

That calling turned into a career that has impacted generations of Bishop’s students. At Bishop’s, Dr. Reynolds played a major role in shaping the chemistry program, including helping develop Advanced Honors Chemistry into the rigorous, collaborative course it is today.

Created 11 years ago after three students approached her wanting a third year of chemistry, the class quickly grew into an intensive, lab-heavy course. “They seriously wanted a lab class,” Dr. Reynolds said. “So they would come in every Friday afternoon… sometimes they worked three or four hours.” She credited those first students with helping build the foundation of the course. “I really attribute a lot of that to them,” she said.

Colleagues describe her as both brilliant and deeply grounded. “She’s one of my favorite humans on the planet,” said Interim Department Chair and Science Teacher Ms. Kaitlin Ritsema. “She’s very, very smart… and fiercely committed to the things she cares about.”

Even after a serious surfing accident this past year left her with a shattered neck and an emergency six-hour surgery, Dr. Reynolds returned with the same gratitude that many students know. Reflecting on the event, she described how quickly everything changed. “It was one of those moments where a total freak thing happened,” she said. “I hit bottom, and I popped up… something was really wrong.” 

After being helped out of the water by nearby surfers and treated by lifeguards and a retired EMT on the beach, Dr. Reynolds said she made a conscious decision not to focus on fear. “I decided to focus on just being hopeful,” she said. 

Despite the severity of the injury, she said what stayed with her most was not frustration. “I just felt immense gratitude,” she said. “It put things in perspective for me.” That experience reinforced one of the messages she shares most often with students: don’t rush through life and appreciate the moments that matter most.

The balance Dr. Reynolds brings between rigor and care is something many students pointed to as defining her teaching style. Audrey Donnelly (‘26), who took Honors Chemistry with Dr. Reynolds, described that dynamic as exactly what she needed at a pivotal moment in her academic life. “She had high expectations, but she really wanted you to succeed,” Audrey said. “She helped me rise to the next level.”

Rather than simply giving students the answers, Dr. Reynolds encouraged them to think more deeply. “She would turn questions back on me,” Audrey said. “It made me figure things out on my own, which was frustrating at first, but it actually helped so much.”

Angelina Kim (‘25), a former Advanced Honors Chemistry student, entered the class feeling intimidated and unsure of herself in chemistry. Over time, that changed completely. “I was terrified,” Angelina said. “But she somehow turned a subject that I felt so alienated from into something that I had a deep connection to.”

Angelina also remembered how Dr. Reynolds handled moments when things didn’t go as planned: long labs, repeated attempts, and unexpected mistakes were all part of the process. “We failed multiple times,” Angelina said. “But she never got frustrated. She just kept helping us work through it.”

But beyond the energy, Abigail emphasized how much Dr. Reynolds genuinely cared about her students as individuals. She noted that it wasn’t uncommon for Dr. Reynolds to check in on students’ lives outside of class or adjust expectations when needed. “She would check in on us and actually get to know us,” Abigail said. “She made sure we were okay, not just academically but personally.” 

That care often showed up in small but meaningful ways, from extended office hours to thoughtful feedback. “She always had her office hours open,” Abigail said. “Even at the expense of her own time,” usually as late as 5:00 p.m. 

For Oliver Baum (‘26), a former Advanced Honors Chemistry student, one of the most impactful aspects of Dr. Reynolds’ teaching was the environment she created. From the very beginning, he noticed how she encouraged collaboration and made students feel comfortable contributing, regardless of their prior knowledge of chemistry. “She made it feel safe to ask questions,” he said. “One of her greatest strengths is creating a collaborative, peer-oriented environment where people feel safe with each other.”

Dr. Reynolds herself sees her role in similar terms. For her, teaching has always been about something larger than content. “I’m a huge believer in legacy,” she said. “But it’s not about you, it’s about the people you encourage.”

She hopes students leave her class with a lasting sense of curiosity and confidence. “It doesn’t have to be perfect,” she said. “It’s about joy, enthusiasm, and wanting to understand.”

Her commitment extends beyond academics. Spanish Teacher Dr. Marda Rose pointed to Dr. Reynolds’ impact on the community. “She’s taken her values and beliefs and made them present here at the school in a positive way,” she said, referencing her sustainability efforts on campus, and making composting a part of Bishopians’ lives.

Outside of campus, Dr. Reynolds embodies that same mindset. Whether she is traveling, rock climbing, hiking, gardening, or cooking, she continues to approach life with the same curiosity and energy she brings to teaching. “She inspires me to try new things and live life to the fullest,” Ms. Ritsema said, reflecting on how Dr. Reynolds continues to pursue her passions over time.

Reflecting on their time working together, Math Teacher Mr. Michael Rybak noted both her professional impact and her personal presence. “It’s hard to imagine the science department without her in it,” he said. “Our classrooms are about as far apart as you can get on campus…but lunches in the dining hall provided an opportunity for me to get to know Dr. Reynolds and recognize a kindred spirit.” 

“I came to admire her integrity, her creativity, her dedication to her role as an educator, and her equanimity and gentle humor,” he continued.

As she prepares to leave Bishop’s, Dr. Reynolds says she will miss “the banter, the dynamic, and the joy of learning as a group” most. However, the messages she repeats to students remain the same: find something you are passionate about and support the people around you.

“Life can be short sometimes,” she continued. “So you gotta enjoy it.”

The impact she leaves behind is immeasurable. As Angelina put it, “she made me believe I could do whatever I want to if I put my mind to it.” And while she may be leaving the lab, that confidence and that curiosity will stay with her students long after they leave.