Why did you choose to attend SUNY Brockport?
I really liked the campus atmosphere, it’s very positive. Everyone is so friendly and there’s so many different people with different interests. There is a lot of things to be involved in and the College has a wide variety of majors to choose from.
Why did you pursue Biology as your major?
I switched from Exercise Science to Biology to fulfill all the prerequisites I needed to apply to be a physician’s assistant. There’s a wide variety of classes offered in this major. I am interested in more of the physiology aspect of biology and learning how your body functions.
Were there any professors that stood out to you?
I work directly with Dr. Hing in his research lab. He’s been my mentor recently. I study how gene pathways influence nerve circuit development with him. Another professor I like is Dr. Rich because he is really focused on making sure everyone understands and is engaged in the class.
What were your favorite classes?
I really enjoyed microbiology, genetics, and anatomy in physiology. I liked how the class information applied directly to your own physical body. It was interesting to learn and understand how my own body works.
What is it like being a part of the honors program?
You only get to do a senior thesis in the honors program. We are working with fruit flies right now. It’s a lot of genetic manipulation, DNA work, and analysis. I also get the honors tuition scholarship for living on campus. Honors students also need to take extra honors courses and I feel like I’m getting more out of my degree this way. It opens up the opportunity to meet more professors that are maybe outside of your major.
Are you involved in any extracurricular activities?
I am the president of the biology club. We’ve tried to recruit people to join the biology honors program here so students would get the opportunity to work hands on with a professor with a research project of their choosing.