USU Professor Transforms Neuroscience Education Across Africa

Through nearly two decades of Teaching Tools Workshops, Uniformed Services University Professor Sharon Juliano has empowered African educators to reimagine how neuroscience is taught, inspiring a generation of students across the continent.

September 18, 2025 by Sharon Holland

For 17 years, Dr. Sharon L. Juliano, a neuroscientist at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU), has been a driving force in transforming how neuroscience is taught across Africa.

Her work as a co-founder and leader of the Teaching Tools Workshops (TTW) has empowered hundreds of African educators with the skills and confidence to teach neuroscience more effectively. The workshops combine interactive modules, hands-on tools, and practical resources-offering participants new ways to inspire their students and strengthen their institutions.

When the program began nearly two decades ago, neuroscience education across much of Africa faced daunting challenges. Many universities lacked affordable teaching tools, structured curricula, and opportunities to train the next generation of neuroscientists. For young educators, teaching neuroscience often meant navigating these gaps with limited resources. Strengthening teaching capacity was essential for African neuroscience to grow and thrive.

Out of this need, the Teaching Tools Workshops were created. Co-pioneered by Juliano and her colleagues, TTW introduced a new model of scientific training-interactive, hands-on, and accessible. Unlike traditional academic conferences, the workshops focused not only on transferring knowledge but on reimagining how neuroscience could be taught and sustained in diverse African contexts. Participants left with practical skills they could apply immediately in their classrooms and laboratories, making the workshops truly transformative.

The results have been profound. Since its inception, TTW has trained hundreds of educators from dozens of African countries, who have in turn reached and inspired thousands of students. For many, the impact has been deeply personal. "My teaching has been sharpened, my confidence deepened, and my students inspired because of the knowledge and tools I gained from these workshops," shared one Nigerian neuroscientist and educator, Dr. Olufunto Adeleye.

These stories highlight how Juliano's vision has created a powerful multiplier effect-empowering educators who then become catalysts for change within their own institutions.

Juliano's legacy is not only found in the skills shared but also in the community built. Over nearly two decades, the organization has cultivated a continent-wide network of African neuroscientists who collaborate, mentor one another, and expand the reach of neuroscience education. Through her consistency and presence year after year, Juliano has modeled more than effective teaching-she has modeled partnership, commitment, and belief in the potential of her African colleagues.

"I (and others) have been organizing the Teaching Tools Workshops in Africa for almost 20 years. We feel this workshop has had a strong impact on African neuroscience, with the creation of global connections and strong interactions between regions. Because we present this workshop to young faculty, more than 15,000 students have been impacted through our direct contact and the contact of our attendees with their students," Juliano said.

Reflecting more on her involvement, Juliano said, "We recently asked our attendees to complete a questionnaire about the impact of their workshop experience. According to the attendees' feedback, 100% of the attendees say the school made them better neuroscience teachers; a vast majority say they are more confident in using the tools to provide better and more exciting presentations, and the experience also increased their overall interest in neuroscience."

Today, neuroscience education in Africa looks very different from when Juliano first began her work there. Interactive learning, innovative teaching tools, and empowered educators are now firmly embedded in the landscape. Many alumni of the workshops have risen to leadership positions in universities and professional societies, extending the program's impact even further. Juliano's dedication has planted seeds that will continue to bear fruit for generations of students. Her legacy is one of empowerment-turning challenges into opportunities, and opportunities into sustainable change.