Choosing Mount Union
I had a unique path to Mount Union, as I actually started here as a CCP (College Credit Plus) student in high school. After two years of attending classes here, my college "decision" wasn't much of a decision at all: I knew Mount was the place for me! It might sound cliché, but it's the people here that make Mount Union feel like a second home. From hanging out with friends, to working on projects with classmates, to great discussions with my professors, I am so privileged to have such a wonderful community and second family here at Mount.
Advice to Prosective Students
Starting college is scary. When I first set foot on campus, I was afraid I wouldn't find friends or get good grades, but the good news about starting college is that no one knows what they're doing, so I wasn't alone in that! Now, I am so glad I took those first steps, because I've come along way during my time here at Mount. While I might be biased to say "Choose Mount Union!," my best advice to high school students is that, when you step onto the right campus, you know it.
Learning Experiences
I am currently an active intern and researcher with Vanderbilt University’s Biomedical Informatics Summer Program (VBISP). Currently, I am studying under Dr. Martin C. Were and other faculty in conjunction with Vanderbilt University’s School of Medicine and Vanderbilt University Medical Center to study the effects of non-medical drivers of health on patient care and wellbeing. I am also a student intern for Mount’s very-own Center for Data Science and AI, as well as a student data analytics worker for the Office of the Integrative Core. This may be my favorite opportunity I've had to-date because I can apply analytics skills learned in the classroom to real-world projects that have a direct impact on the Mount community. This past year, I was also honored to represent the University of Mount Union at the Ohio Celebration of Women in Computing (OCWIC) bi-annual conference, where I presented “Solving Wordle Through Constraint Optimization: A Practical Look at Heuristic-Driven Artificial Intelligence.” I was also able to present this project at Mount Union’s 2025 SCHOLAR Day.