Story & Lesson Highlights with Daria (Dary) Dega of Aggieland

Daria (Dary) Dega shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Daria (Dary), thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
What brings me immense joy lately is returning to school to continue my education. Although I already hold an M.D., a Ph.D., and several bachelor’s degrees, I have always believed that learning is a lifelong journey. I completed another Master’s degree at Northwestern State University two years ago and decided to take an exciting step by joining the Museum Studies graduate program at Harvard University.

This experience has been incredibly rewarding. I am diving into new ideas about museums, art, and community engagement while connecting with inspiring professors and classmates. I especially enjoy traveling to Boston for my classes. Every visit feels like a blend of excitement and reflection; I get to walk through historic streets, explore museums, and feel fully immersed in the energy of learning again. Balancing my professional work with graduate study can be intense at times, but it fills me with purpose and happiness. It serves as a wonderful reminder that growth and discovery never truly end.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Dr. Daria Penionzhkevich Dega, though most people in the art community know me as Dary Dega. I’m an artist, curator, educator, and community builder who has always believed in the power of art to connect people and heal communities. I founded DEGALLERY in Bryan, Texas, in 2016—a vibrant space where creativity meets education, featuring exhibitions, workshops, and international collaborations. Later, I established the DEGA International Art Association, a nonprofit that brings together artists from around the world for cultural exchange and large-scale events like DEGART International Big Art Week and the Happy DEGART International Kids Art Contest.

What makes my work unique is the bridge I try to build between art, science, and human experience. With my background in medicine (M.D., Ph.D.) and art, I’m deeply interested in how creativity influences mental well-being. My current project, ARTuMental Reality, explores the intersection of art, technology, and emotional health through interactive and immersive exhibitions.

At the same time, I’m pursuing graduate studies in Museum Studies at Harvard University, expanding my research on how museums can become spaces of care, innovation, and inclusion. Everything I do—whether it’s curating an exhibition or teaching a class—is guided by one belief: art can change lives when it’s shared with purpose and heart.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I think what breaks the bonds between people is fear—fear of difference, of not being understood, or of losing control. In our fast and digital world, people often forget to truly listen and see each other. Misunderstanding grows when we stop being curious, compassionate, and open to others’ stories.

What restores those bonds, for me, is art. Art invites empathy—it lets us step into someone else’s emotions, culture, or perspective without words. When people create together, they stop being strangers; they become co-authors of something meaningful.

I’ve seen it again and again through my gallery, international art festivals, and educational programs: a shared creative moment can bridge generations, languages, and beliefs. Connection is restored when people are given the space to express themselves and be seen—not as labels or roles, but as human beings. That’s why my mission, in every project I lead, is to use art as a language of unity, healing, and hope.

When did you last change your mind about something important?
I changed my mind about the idea of timing—that there is only one right moment in life to start something new. For many years, I believed that dreams had a schedule, that our biggest decisions had to happen early. But life showed me that renewal can happen at any age, in any chapter.

When I decided to return to graduate school to study again, I realized that growth never ends. Education isn’t something we finish; it’s something that keeps us alive, curious, and connected.

Now, I see that change is not a sign of instability but of strength. Every new beginning, even if it comes later in life, is proof that we still believe in the future. That shift in perspective transformed the way I teach, create, and lead. It reminded me that reinvention is an act of courage—and that it’s never too late to follow the path that makes your heart come alive.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes—and no. The public version of me is real, but it’s only one part of my story. People often see the confident artist, curator, and leader—the woman who speaks on stage, teaches, organizes exhibitions, and travels between Texas and Boston. That version is true, but it doesn’t show the quiet moments behind it—the mother, the wife, the daughter, the woman who misses her family and friends oceans away.

When I first emigrated, I faced years of deep frustration. Everything was new—language, culture, expectations—and many days, I smiled when I wanted to cry. I had to be strong, even when my heart wanted permission to be soft. Over time, I learned that strength doesn’t mean never breaking—it means rebuilding yourself again and again, through art, love, and purpose.

So yes, the public version of me is real, but the truest version lives in the balance between strength and vulnerability—in the woman who creates beauty not to hide her emotions, but to survive them.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would stop rushing. I would stop saying “maybe later” to the people I love. Life has already taught me that time is not guaranteed, but sometimes I still fill my days with endless lists, meetings, and obligations. If I had ten years left, I would choose presence over perfection.

I would stop doubting myself and comparing my journey to others. I would give myself permission to rest, to breathe, to create for pure joy rather than deadlines. I would stop hiding behind strength and allow myself to be softer—to cry when I need to, to ask for help, to tell people how much they mean to me.

Mostly, I would stop postponing happiness. I would travel more, paint more, stay more with my children, laugh louder with friends, and live every day as art itself—a masterpiece of gratitude and love.

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