Student Spotlights

Exploring Possibilities: Cole Jordan on Research, Growth, and Next Steps

What challenges have you faced in your graduate studies and what lessons did you learn personally and professionally?

I was out of school for three years before starting the master’s program, so getting back into the student mindset was a struggle at the beginning. Since starting the program, I’ve learned how to better motivate myself. It’s also been fun learning more about how to design experiments and being able to see the results of those experiments.

How has your program shaped your perspective on biomolecular science and career opportunities?

It helped show me that there are other career options outside of just academia. I am currently preparing to apply to medical school next year, and this program is helping me prepare for the next step.

If you were to start over again, what advice would you give to yourself or a prospective student considering the MS in Biomolecular Science program? 

If you’ve been out of school for some time, be prepared for the adjustment of returning to student life. Both program directors are very kind, and the PIs are always willing to help.

Four Degrees, One Purpose: Tyra Newton on Improving Lives Through Compassionate Care

Can you tell us about your specialty area and why you chose it?

I feel like oncology chose me. I can’t see myself practicing in any other area right now, and it all goes back to the knowledge and teaching I received from AU. With oncology, you’re continually learning. That’s the great thing about cancer research – there’s always something new, and that progress helps improve patient outcomes. We meet people at the worst point in their lives in hematology and oncology. You have to have patience and understanding, and you have to give compassionate care. Yes, patients care about the knowledge you have of their diagnosis, side effects, and chemotherapy, but they also want to know your heart. They need compassion, and that means so much more because anybody can just read information from a book.

Were there any moments along the way where you doubted yourself, and if so, how did you overcome them?

My faith has carried me a long way, along with the support of my family, my husband, my work family, and my school family. Over the years, I’ve built strong relationships - from clinical pathology to nursing and now as a provider. Those connections have been invaluable. Even during moments of doubt, I could lean on professors for guidance and a listening ear. It’s really about having that support system and remembering we’re not meant to do this alone.

Strategic Vision: Samantha Mullis on Business, Leadership, and Lifelong Learning

While we do have a role to mitigate risk to the University, I want to help shift the perception of our office from being an obstacle to being a true partner in problem-solving. My goal is to foster a culture where faculty and staff see Legal as a collaborative, approachable resource that empowers them to move their initiatives forward responsibly. When we’re engaged early in the process, we can work together to achieve creative, compliant solutions—avoiding reactive noncompliance on the back end.

Can you tell us about your work as Associate General Counsel at Augusta University?

Ultimately, my role as an Associate General Counsel is to support the mission of AU by ensuring that we are as legally compliant as possible. Augusta University is especially unique due to the complexity of programs, research institutes, and clinical programs such as the Medical College of Georgia and Dental College of Georgia. We also employ over 6,700 faculty, staff, and other subgroups which bring their own legal requirements. Day-to-day I advise on a variety of legal issues that touch higher education. My portfolio involves the simplest contracts to advising on complicated litigation matters. My days are never the same, and not knowing what’s next from one of my fellow colleagues across campus makes the job all that more exciting.

What motivates you to keep learning and growing both in your legal career and MBA studies?

I’ve always been a lifelong learner. I’m also highly competitive with myself and looking for ways that I can be better. A better person, a better wife and mother, a better lawyer. I have been fortunate in my career to work for offices and firms that support professional development, and Augusta University is no exception. I guess, the idea of progress motivates me.

What advice would you give to prospective students considering the MBA program at Augusta University while working full-time?

That’s an easy one – do it. Just like you never regret a workout, I don’t think you regret furthering your education either. For prospective students who are also working full-time, my biggest advice is to find your people. Your people will be those that support you and keep you grounded. Communicate with them often. For me, that’s mainly my spouse and the friends I’ve made in class who are also full-time professionals. Being upfront about your schedule and honest about what’s on your plate helps manage expectations, balance household responsibilities, and navigate the inevitable group projects more smoothly.

Drawing Connections: Keri Alber on Communication and Creativity in Healthcare

Can you tell us about your research focus and what excites you most about its potential impact?

My research focuses on teaching medical students how to draw to communicate with patients and exploring how this training affects both the students and the patients themselves. What excites me most is the opportunity to address a clear gap in the existing research around this communication approach. I’m passionate about not only demonstrating its benefits but also encouraging others in the medical field to adopt and integrate this method, ultimately improving patient care and outcomes.

Have you had any “aha” moments in your research or studies that changed your perspective?

One of my “aha” moments was learning the value of qualitative research. Not just for the depth of insight it offers, but also how engaging the analysis can be. It feels like solving a puzzle, synthesizing and piecing together narratives to uncover patterns and meaning. The course on Qualitative Methods changed my perspective on how qualitative methods can be used, especially when integrated with quantitative data. I now appreciate the strength of mixed-methods research in providing a more comprehensive understanding of complex issues by combining the richness of qualitative data with the structure and scale of quantitative analysis.

What motivates you to keep going on tough days?

I love learning, so the pursuit of knowledge keeps me motivated. I’m also motivated by my long-term career goals and the belief that the effort I put in now will open up greater opportunities down the line. Most importantly, the support and encouragement of my spouse, family, mentor, and colleagues keep me grounded and remind me why I started this journey in the first place. My advice to prospective students is to maintain a strong work-life balance and build a reliable support system. Staying organized and motivated is key. Remember why you started, lean on your support network when needed, and make time for rest and activities that recharge you.

A Worthy Pursuit: Hunter Sellers on Science, Growth, and Grit

Your research centers on vascular biology — can you share what excites you most about your work and its potential impact?

My major advisor, Dr. David Fulton, recently used a metaphor that I think is pertinent to this question: The contribution of basic research to improving human health is a big wheel that we all push forward. My work on obesity and cardiometabolic disease is no different. I hope that the field of obesity will find utility in the models I’ve created and use them to push the wheel even further towards a world with less burden of chronic disease.

Congratulations on recently passing the patent bar exam! How do you see combining your background in biomedical sciences with intellectual property law shaping your future career path?

Thank you so much! The exam is notoriously difficult and the preparation for it is no joke, but a few months of diligent studying makes the exam a manageable hurdle. Appropriate technical expertise is vitally important in providing competent representation to clients before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The world-class molecular biology and biomedical training I have received through Dr. Fulton’s mentorship will be instrumental in my ability to take client’s inventions and turn them into robust intellectual property.

hat has been the most rewarding part of your graduate school experience at Augusta University—whether in the lab, in the classroom, or through mentorship?

The highlights of my graduate school experience have been centered around the numerous opportunities to communicate my research with others. Whether that be through training new students in lab, choosing the right turn of phrase during a presentation, or writing a persuasive argument in a manuscript, that moment when understanding clicks for the audience brings a huge sense of satisfaction.

What advice would you give to prospective graduate students who are considering Augusta University for their PhD studies?

I strive to be a person with few strong opinions; however, one opinion I do hold firmly is that education should be a deeply uncomfortable endeavor. Education should broaden world views and stretch capabilities in ways that can be quite unsettling. My advice would be to take on challenges that seem extremely daunting and to view that feeling of intimidation as a mark of a worthy pursuit.