Mason Duke, a fall 2025 biology pre-professional graduate from Baytown, Texas, earned admission to the Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry in Nashville, Tenn.
Duke selected Meharry after receiving acceptances from multiple dental schools. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a 3.78 GPA. During his tenure at Alcorn State University, he earned President’s List and Dean’s List recognitions multiple times and received the Department of Biology Outstanding Senior Award.
“Managing demanding courses and internships while playing baseball was a challenge,” said Duke. “Acceptance is rewarding, especially entering a field with less than 3 percent Black representation.”
To prepare for dental school, Duke completed internships at the Yale School of Medicine and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry. He cited Alcorn State alumnus Dr. David Maxwell as a mentor who provided guidance regarding the dental school application process.
“I am the youngest of my siblings and the first to attend an HBCU,” said Duke. “Alcorn’s culture will stay with me throughout my dental career.”
While at Alcorn, Duke was a scholarship athlete on the baseball team and served as a representative for the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). He also served as a board member for the Gamma Pi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and held membership in the Alcorn State Biology Club and the Students in Dentistry organization.
