Alcorn student visits Northwestern University, prepares for graduate school
Alcorn student visits Northwestern University, prepares for graduate school
Students at Alcorn have plenty of chances to visit other universities, check out their graduate programs, explore research opportunities and more. And junior pre-medicine, biochemistry major Essence Henderson is taking advantage. The East St. Louis, Illinois native traveled to Evanston and Chicago on April 25, to visit the campuses of Northwestern University.
“Northwestern is a great institution, and the visit was very beneficial in helping me build my options for graduate school,” said Henderson. Henderson visited the main campus in Evanston, and also visited the medical hospital and toured the labs of several Ph.D. students in Chicago. She met with the dean and assistant dean of the graduate school, the director of Multicultural Affairs, and several students currently enrolled in doctoral programs. “Northwestern is now one of my top choices.”
“This is the first visit that Alcorn has made to Northwestern University in regard to its graduate programs,” shared Dr. Bettaiya Rajanna, chairperson and professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Alcorn. “It was an opportunity not only for Essence to learn about their graduate programs but to discuss opportunities with administration at Northwestern for Alcorn students after completion of an undergraduate degree here.”
Henderson is vice president of the Khem Klub at Alcorn and is a member of the Biology Club, Alpha Chi Sigma, Beta Beta Beta, MAPS and Beta Kappa Chi. She has participated in the Minority Health International Research Training (MHIRT) Program where she had the opportunity to do research at St. John’s National Research Institute in Bangalore, India. After graduating from Alcorn State, Henderson plans to enroll in a combined M.D./Ph.D. program with hopes of later becoming a pediatric surgeon with a focus on oncology.
Students interested in similar opportunities are encouraged to contact Dr. Bettaiya Rajanna at 601.877.6681, [email protected].
