Corianna Anderson

Corianna Anderson ’10, plans to attend medical school, become a doctor and specialize in obstetrics. When she graduates this spring with an undergraduate degree in chemistry — and minors in biology and women and gender studies — she will have achieved the first step toward achieving her goal.

“A former chemistry student drew me to the Chemistry Department here,” Corianna says. “When my mom and I were visiting the school my junior year (of high school), a student saw us wandering the halls and stopped to ask what I was interested in.”

She knew she was going to major in chemistry — a subject that has fascinated her since freshman year in high school. So she told him.

“When he found out I was interested in chemistry, he asked if we wanted to take a tour of the Instrumental Lab,” Corianna remembers. “He took us around the lab and explained the different instruments and what they were used for. This simple act of kindness to a future student made me realize I wanted to be a part of a community like this.”

At Carthage, Corianna is a member of Chemistry Club, Pre-Health Club, Theta Chi Delta, and Beta Beta Beta. She has served as secretary of Theta Chi Delta, and the secretary and president of Pre-Health Club. She has been a member of the Carthage Treble Choir all four years, and was an orientation leader. She’s also served as a laboratory assistant since her sophomore year, and is a supplemental instructor for CHEM 101 and 102.

In June 2008, she traveled to Nicaragua for a J-Term class (some J-Term trips are offered during the summer months). While in Nicaragua, she volunteered in medical clinics, observed doctors, treated patients under their supervision, and essentially tried out her future career.

In another J-Term class, Working Women, she learned about issues facing women in the workforce and developed life skills including handling financial investments and mortgages.

“I have also been able to form relationships with many of the professors in the Chemistry and Biology departments,” she says, and adds that she’s gained research experience as well.  “I did research at the Medical College of Wisconsin in a genetics department during the summer before my junior year at Carthage,” she says. “My project was on Proteus Syndrome. We were investigating different gene inhibitors in order to slow the growth of the tumors that were a result of this syndrome.”