This month, we spoke with Baltimore Curriculum Project (BCP) Board of Directors member, Dilyan I. Dryanovski, Ph.D., Scientific Program Analyst with the National Institutes of Health and parent of a current student at Hampstead Hill Academy. Dr. Dryanovski is a neuroscientist trained in electrophysiology, imaging, and molecular biology techniques to address treatment and interventions in the fields of neurodegeneration, addiction, and psychiatric disorders, Dr. Dryanovski brings the same level of detail and analysis to his work on the BCP Board.
Q: How did you learn about the BCP Board?
I attended a Baltimore alumni event for Northwestern University in late 2017 or early 2018. It turns out that one of the organizers was Chris Doherty, the husband of BCP President and CEO Laura Doherty. I started chatting with her about my son who attends Hampstead Hill Academy (HHA), a BCP school. [He has been a student at HHA since Pre-K.] She was very interested in my experiences [as an HHA parent] and in my background in academia. She invited me to join the BCP board. Several weeks later, I met the other board members, had a formal interview, and joined the BCP board in 2018.
I serve on the Education Committee since I’ve been involved in education throughout my entire career. Currently, I am a program analyst at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and have been a senior researcher at universities, in government, and in industry. I have an extensive background in looking at programs and evaluating programs and being part of the program, so I am a good fit for the Education Committee.
Q: What does it mean to you to serve on the BCP board?
It’s a very unique opportunity to actively contribute to the education of young people, which translates to changing their whole life. You have the ability to change how they respond to life and what they do in the future. Education and schools are one of the places where you can change a person’s trajectory.
Because BCP schools are elementary and middle schools, it’s early education. Having a basic, good early education helps students during their high school and college years and even professionally. I’m really fortunate to be actively involved in an organization that supports this kind of change. I’ve had good education myself, and it’s time to give back to the community as much as I can to improve the lives of children. When you improve schools and children’s lives, you improve the communities.
Q: How is your BCP board service differ from your other civic or philanthropic activities?
Before BCP, I would volunteer to particular events that were usually over in a few days. I’d host an event or speaker, help out, and that would be it. This is a long-term commitment. We’re not going to see results in a day or week or month at BCP. It might take years to see the results of our work, but you need to be active throughout to make a difference.
The BCP board works very hard to make our schools better. We’re a small organization. It’s a unique environment where everyone contributes and every voice is heard. We work together to give children a good education that will help them now and for the rest of their lives.
About Dilyan I. Dryanovski
Currently, Scientific Program Analyst, NIH
Expert on electrophysiology, imaging, and molecular biology techniques with 15+ years working on projects in the fields of neurodegeneration, addiction, and psychiatric disorders.
Research experience with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Northwestern University, University of Maryland, The George Washington University, MedImmine, Inc., CVPath Institute, Inc.
Ph.D. Neuroscience, Northwestern University
B.S., Biological Sciences, cum laude, The George Washington University
Other volunteer experience/awards:
- 2018-2019: Brain Awareness Week and SABES Program Volunteer
- 2017-2021: Member of the NIDA Postdoc Advisory Board.
- Past Instructor, Baltimore City Public Schools Summer Science Boot Camp and NIH Community College Summer Enrichment Program.
- Selected Speaker for the Baltimore Brain Series.
- Recipient of Mechanism of Aging and Dementia Training Grant.
