Alexandra (Alex) Cummins is MNU’s second-ever Goldwater Scholar. The honor, which includes a scholarship organized by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation, is the most prestigious national award recognizing undergraduates with the highest potential for a successful career in STEM research. Scholars receive $7,500 to support their studies during their senior year and the opportunity to connect with former Goldwater Scholars working in a field related to the student’s career goals.
Alex is a junior majoring in biology and chemistry from Olathe, Kansas, with a minor in mathematics. Of approximately 1,350 nominees from 445 academic institutions, only 441 were selected. Last summer, Alex participated in a prestigious Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) Program at the University of Kansas, Department of Molecular Biosciences. Alex’s research used Fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study the membrane interactions of a protein relating to infection. Understanding this process could lead researchers closer to successfully developing treatments. Alex also presented this work at the March American Chemical Society National Meeting in San Diego. The REU experience helped solidify her plans to attend graduate school after graduating from MNU.
Alex’s career goal is to earn a PhD in biochemistry and then conduct research in the field and teach at the collegiate level. Alex credits MNU Professors Drs. Chelsea Comadoll, Rion Taylor and Abby Hodges as influential mentors in her education. Dr. Comadoll, who also serves as MNU’s Goldwater Campus Representative, says, “Alex is truly a one-in-a-million student. Any professor across the country would be hard-pressed to find an undergraduate capable of matching the passion, love, and knowledge that Alex has for biology and chemistry. She is a gifted scientist, speaker, and teacher, and her impact on the scientific community and her own future students will be significant, just as her impact on us has been.”
Earlier this year, Alex was asked about her experience at MNU.
“The community at MNU is what sets it apart. Dr. Rion Taylor has integrated faith in teaching biology,” she says. “One of the things he says all the time is, ‘Studying biology can be seen as a form of worship because we are studying God’s creation,’ and I think that is such a beautiful thing. All the [MNU] professors are so knowledgeable in their specific fields. The way I have been transformed as a person, surrounded by all these individuals who follow Jesus and want to help me succeed in my education and in life, it is truly an amazing place.”
We think Alex is amazing too! Congratulations on this elite honor.
