NCCC Success Story

Where is your hometown?
Jackson, New Jersey

What was your degree program and graduation date at RIT/NTID?
Biomedical Science, Spring 2025

What is your preferred language of use: ASL, Spoken English, Both or another language?
Spoken English and American Sign Language.

What was your high school experience like? Were you mainstreamed, the only deaf person in the class, or were you enrolled with deaf classmates?
I was mainstreamed and the only deaf/hard-of-hearing person in my class.

What was your college search process like, and what reasons made you choose RIT/NTID?
As a transfer student, my college search was very targeted at RIT/NTID. I was not getting the support I needed as a hard-of-hearing individual and student at my past university. I knew I wanted to transfer to a school where access was prioritized. I was also heavily interested in conducting research. I chose RIT/NTID because it has strong access services as well as a multitude of strong research opportunities.

Did your identity as a deaf/hard-of-hearing person have an impact on your college choice?
Yes, my identity as a hard-of-hearing person had a huge impact on college choice. I thought my first university was accessible. However, when I found out it was not as accessible as advertised I knew I needed to prioritize finding a school that would not only accept but embrace my identity.

What makes RIT a good fit for you?
RIT is a good fit for me as it has everything I could possibly need/want in a college. It has a large D/deaf/Hard of hearing community, amazing research opportunities, strong academics, and unique extracurricular activities such as rock climbing.

Are there any unique benefits gained at RIT/NTID that you could not find elsewhere?
There are many unique benefits at RIT/NTID that are exclusive to here. For me I think the biggest benefit is being able to be cross-registered with the College of Health Sciences and Technology and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf.

What are your peers like at RIT/NTID? Do you have a mix of hearing/deaf friends?
I have a mix of hearing/hard-of-hearing/deaf friends, which is one of the huge perks of RIT/NTID. There is a blended experience on campus between the Deaf and Hearing worlds.

Are you involved with any extracurricular activities on campus?
I am involved in a number of extracurricular activities on campus. I am a Trainee of the RIT Undergraduate Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement, U-RISE, program. The U-RISE program is a NIH funded training program for Deaf/Hard-of-Hearing Undergraduate Scientists who intend to pursue a PhD. For the past two years I have been fortunate enough to be a part of this program. It is through the support of U-RISE that I conduct cancer cellular biology research. During the past two years I have had the wonderful experience of being a representative for the d/Deaf and hard-of-hearing members of my college, the College of Health Sciences and Technology, for the Cross-Registered Advisory Board, X-SAB. This past year I participated as a mentor for my college's mentor program for first year students. Last but not least I love to rock-climb/boulder in the Red Barn on Campus in my free time!

What is your career goal?
One of my career goals is to receive a PhD in cellular biology. I would like to explore cellular biology more in depth and in relation to the immune system. As our immune system is the body’s first defense system against viruses, and illness.

How has your experience at RIT/NTID prepared you for your career?
My experiences at RIT/NTID have prepared me for a career as I have had an immense amount of experience as a cellular bench lab scientist through conducting research. Along with research, the courses I have taken set me up to have an amazing co-op experience.

If possible, what one word would you use to describe RIT/NTID?
Impactful.

If applicable, what was your co-op employer's name and location?
I had a Co-cop at Eli Lilly and Company in Indianapolis Indiana this past summer.

If applicable, what was your position at your co-op and what were the role’s responsibilities?
I was a Manufacturing and Quality Science Intern in the Diabetes Care Quality Control Chemistry Lab within Indianapolis Parenteral Manufacturing. My responsibilities included conducting the daily proceedings of the Quality Control lab. The goal of the lab was to test Lilly’s insulin products to ensure they meet their requirements and industry standards. I also worked in Environmental Monitoring, which oversaw the sterile environments where the vials of insulin were filled with medication.

If applicable, how did your co-op relate to your studies at RIT/NTID?
Yes, I used my knowledge of analytical chemistry. I also used the knowledge and hands on experience I received during my research in sterility to help understand how a sterile environment is maintained on an industrial scale.