• Hometown: Batavia, Ohio
• Class: 2026
• Major(s):  Individualized Studies, Microbiology
• Minor(s): Neuroscience
• Other Activities, Honors, and Awards:
  • Honors College
  • First Generation Student
  • Miami University's Diversity Affairs Council as a Director of Educational Programming,
  • MULABS service organization as the President
  • MAPS (Minority Association of Pre-Med students) 
  • MAP (Miami Activities & Programming) from Fall 2022 to January 2024.
  • I have had the privilege to present two research posters during my time at Miami, one during the spring of my freshmen year on campus and another at the NIH, where I credited Miami's outstanding science faculty for the mentorship that made this internship possible.

Why Miami?

I chose Miami because of the strong sense of community that I felt during my campus tour. It immediately felt like a place that I would thrive at. Also, it was one of the only schools that offered a Microbiology major, which was my primary goal at the time. A month after admissions, I got an email that I had gotten into the Honors College, which ultimately solidified my decision. The Honors College experience has given me a lot of freedom and mentorship as I began to figure out the right future steps. I can confidently say that this was the best choice I had made.

How did you choose your major?

I entered Miami being fully committed to Microbiology and Premedical Studies. However, after meeting with an academic advisor, Zack Hill, I decided to pursue Individualized Studies as a major as well. During my sophomore year, I began to take some psychology classes for my other major and discovered I was passionate about the intersection of neuroscience and microbiology. Now, as a junior, I am still majoring in Microbiology but expanded my experiences with additional majors and minors that I discovered over time as I developed my interests.

Key Moment at Miami

The most transformative class I've taken was Biopsychology (PSY 251) with Dr. Ryan Rakoczy during the spring of my sophomore year. It was the start of my interests in neuroscience, and I was able to use that learning experience to volunteer in local hospitals, focusing on neurocritical care. It felt amazing to see actual clinical cases corresponding to what I was learning about in the class. This class also solidified my passion for medical school while also providing me the opportunity to contribute to Dr. Rakoczy's research lab, focusing on mental health therapeutics.

Other Notable Experience

During my sophomore year, I started doing research in molecular biology and was able to use that experience to get an internship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) focusing on virus replication techniques. During that experience, I spoke with some brilliant neuroscientists and doctors, which reinforced my goal of being a doctor but also sparked an interest in rural neurological care versus strictly lab research. Upon returning to campus, I started doing psilocybin research with Dr. Rakoczy, which held promising therapeutic implications. I was also inspired to create my own service organization on campus, MULABS, to help local children get access to STEM education through volunteer-led workshops at Oxford and Hamilton Libraries.

Another Miami Moment

During the Fall semester of my sophomore year, I was an Undergraduate Associate for a first year introductory course, where I helped facilitate the transition of first year students to Miami University. At the beginning of the year, 75% of the students in the class were committed to their declared major. By the end of the semester, only 20% remained in exactly the same major. This experience highlighted how flexible and transformative the first semester can be, prompting me to reflect on my own goals and ultimately pursue neuroscience as a minor.

Advice to Prospective Students

When you are looking at universities, it is important to have a deeper connection with faculty, your choice of major, and the general feel of campus. Talk to people during campus tours including current students and staff. Worry less about having a strict plan, since throughout your time at Miami, your interests and passions will fluctuate, no matter how much you plan. Miami has a lot of great learning opportunities, not just academic, but also professional and social. It is a place of genuine support and growth.

What are your career goals?  

I am planning on going to medical school to be a family medicine doctor and sub-specialize in neurological care.