Pronouns: she/her 

Graduation year: 2016 

Hometown: Denver, CO 

Currently living in: Denver, CO 

Current occupation: Periodontist

What was your experience at CC like as a Molecular Biology major? 

My experience as a Molecular Biology major at Colorado College afforded me opportunities unlike any other - offering an extended opportunity for primary research and travel abroad to present research, but also deep, on-campus exploration in the walls of Olin and Barnes. Colorado College offers a series of unique intellectual freedoms that other institutions simply cannot. Delving into the depth of scientific discovery either for an extended period of time, or, just three weeks at a time, offers flexibility and taught me skills in critical thinking that I use every day as a periodontist. I believe the faculty at Colorado College, namely Dr. Phoebe Lostroh in the Molecular Biology department, served as shining pillars of leaders in both the classroom and social spaces.  

Why were you interested in focusing on Molecular Biology as your major? 

I was initially interested in majoring in Molecular Biology because I had an interest in the health professions but was drawn in with my interest in Dr. Phoebe Lostroh’s research in bacterial transformation. I was interested in the microbe-human connection, and enthralled by the tiny world of bacteria. Now, as a periodontist, biofilm and the microbial world still take precedence in my professional life, as I wage combat against periodontitis-causing bacteria and patients’ unique immunological responses on the daily.  

How are you using your major in your post-CC life? 

I am a periodontist, which is a dental specialist in the surgery of the periodontium - the supporting tissues of the teeth including the bone, gums, and the restoration of teeth with dental implants. I was interested in periodontics as a speciality due to the mouth-body connection, bacteria and the patient’s immune response being the primary drivers of chronic periodontitis. Further, Colorado College taught me valuable skills in critical thinking and journal review, all of which I exercise on a daily basis both in surgical technique and with my current research interests in periodontal disease and cardiovascular physiology.