How a Math Class Evolved into a Trip to Harvard Medical School

April 16, 2019

Melissa Gander

It’s been a journey that began at SUNY Cobleskill, moved to a veterinary school in St. Kitts in the West Indies, and has stopped for the time being at Farmingdale State College. The traveler is Melissa Gander ’19, an Applied Mathematics major who recently presented a poster at the Scientista Symposium at Harvard Medical School.

Melissa grew up with a dream of becoming a veterinarian, so she went to Cobleskill to study animal science. The dream then brought her to Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, in St. Kitts. But while there, she changed her mind about a career, returned to New York, and enrolled at FSC.

“I have a love for math, problem-solving, and puzzles, so attending Farmingdale’s Applied Mathematics program seemed like a no-brainer, and I couldn’t be any happier with that decision,” Melissa said.

As well she should be. She’s been a Deans’ List student since enrolling at FSC, and recently was inducted in the Order of Omega honor society. And, with a few classmates in an Applied Analysis class, she developed the research that led to the Scientista Symposium. The poster development was hers alone.

“This educational experience pushed me to better understand how to communicate research to different audiences, as well as to push my boundaries on furthering my education after graduating from Farmingdale State College. I was able to network with hundreds of women who were either pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree, as well as professionals within the fields of industry, academia, government, and non-profit. I gained invaluable skills such as communication, and got to become even more infatuated with what the future of STEM has in store.”

Graduate school for risk or data analysis may be next for a Melissa, and she’s considering a career as an actuary.