Wesleyan University student Mackenzie Mitchell of Ridgefield was inducted into the 2019 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) Honor Society in March. She is one of only 33 students from around the country who were eligible to join the society this year.
Mitchell is majoring in molecular biology and biochemistry and the Science in Society Program. She is a member of the ASBMB Student Chapters and has demonstrated exceptional achievement in academics, undergraduate research, and science outreach.
Since enrolling at Wesleyan, Mitchell has furthered her interests by participating in research with Associate Professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Amy MacQueen's research group. She currently investigates the roles of budding yeast's central element building blocks, Ecm11and Gmc2 via yeast 2-hybrid (Y2H) assays. Her basic science research has been augmented by research at Columbia Presbyterian in which different biomaterials for heart valves was explored.
In addition to being a team captain for the women's soccer team, Mitchell is a member of the Natural Sciences and Mathematics Coalition, which works to tackle the barriers minority students face in NSM. She also is a member of the Student-Athletes of Color Leadership Council and volunteers as a mentor to a second grader at the local elementary school and works with a program for students 18-22 with disabilities who are bridging the gap between high school and college. As an aspiring doctor, Mitchell hopes to use her experiences gained as an undergraduate to grow the exposure of an ethnically diverse workforce in medicine. "I ultimately hope to work on a daily basis with underserved populations not only to better patient healthcare but also to be able to mentor younger African American students and encourage greater involvement in STEM research or medicine," she said.
Wesleyan University is a private, non-sectarian liberal arts university in Middletown, Conn. Founded in 1831, Wesleyan offers its 3,000 undergraduates and 200 graduate students a demanding educational environment characterized by boldness, rigor and practical idealism. At Wesleyan, distinguished scholar-teachers work closely with students in more than 45 fields of study. The university seeks to build a diverse, energetic community of students, faculty and staff who think critically and creatively and value independence of mind and the generosity of spirit. Located two hours from both New York and Boston, the campus overlooks downtown Middletown and the Connecticut River. For more information, visit www.wesleyan.edu.