Chemistry and Biochemistry News

Biochemistry alum (BS’ 15) Kathryn Merrick Jendras got married earlier this month to long time boyfriend, Casey. Kathryn also recently completed her doctorate of physical therapy degree at the University Maryland at Baltimore and is now a practicing physical therapist at Mt. Washington Pediatric Hospital. Kathryn also stays active in the department, serving on alumni panels for Stevenson Future Scholars Day. Congratulations Kathryn we are so proud of your accomplishments!

Biochemistry alum (BS’18) Kourtney Wells recently landed a position with Orisis Therapeutics, Inc. as a Manufacturing Operator. Specifically she will be helping in the manufacture of products made from donated placental tissue. These products are used to provide wound closure alternatives for surgical patients. The company also produces allograft cartilage products that are used in knee replacement surgery. When asked how her Stevenson education prepared her for the working world, Kourtney commented “The education that I got at Stevenson prepared me first through learning skills in the classroom such as aseptic technique that I can apply directly to things that I am doing in my job. My education also prepared me by learning to ask questions and be fully informed. Also through my capstone requirement I learned how to work in a professional setting”.

First Year Seminar is a required course for all incoming freshman at Stevenson. The course is designed to guide students in discovering their strengths and how those strengths fit in with their career goals. A sense of community is forged as students participate in a day of service with the university. Part of the class is just learning their way around campus, and designing their course plan for the next four years. Students take selfies around campus to show that they can locate necessary resources. Some students have a lot of fun with their photos as can be seen here.

If you missed the Cookies with Chemists hour, we will be having cookies, fun and games every other Monday afternoon at 2 PM in Solve room A (S124A in the MAC). Come meet your chemistry faculty and classmates in an informal atmosphere! In order that everyone can join in on the fun, we are adding a few additional Thursdays dates. Our next meet up is Thursday September 20th in Solve room A at 1 PM, followed by Monday, September 24th at the usual time.

Morgan McCluskey Wirtz (Biochem ’18) started this fall at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Pharmacy. She’s very excited to be in pharmacy school and is very glad that she chose VCU. “I am currently taking ten classes varying from communications to organic chemistry to health care systems. I’m beginning to memorize a portion of the top 300 prescription drugs, which might be one of my favorite things so far.” Morgan encourages others at SU interested in pharmacy to get a lot of experience in a pharmacy before applying to pharmacy school- it’s really helping her a lot! Morgan just participated in the White Coat Ceremony, receiving her white coat and taking the Oath of Pharmacy Students. The Chemistry and Biochemistry faculty at Stevenson are so proud of Morgan!