Kathy Reichs

Distinguished Alumnae Award Recipient, 2023

Kathy Reichs, American crime writer, forensic anthropologist and academic, is the recipient of The Alumnae of Northwestern University’s 2023 Alumnae Award. The award, established in 1976, is presented annually to an outstanding alumna who has made significant contributions in her field and who has attained national recognition. Educators, journalists, doctors, scientists, and artists are included among The Alumnae’s roster of awardees.

“As the 47th recipient of our Alumnae Award, Kathy will join a distinguished group of women bringing honor to the women of Northwestern University,” says The Alumnae president Carol Willis.

Click here for the complete news release.

Olive Jung

STEM Scholarship Recipient, 2012

Major(s): Chemistry, (She is planning legal studies as an adjunct major)

School:  Weinberg College of Arts and Science

Hometown:  Foster City, California

Olive is interested in biochemistry and nanotechnology.  Her long range goal is “to be a scientist

who is not just concerned with concepts and lab research, but someone with awareness about the ethics of research that can possibly impact the society.”  She is in the NU Bioscientists program and earned praise for her research proposal and lab work this winter in the Science Research Preparation course.  This fall she will be a facilitator to incoming freshman for the NU Bioscientists program.  Music is another interest of hers--she plays the violin in the Northwestern Philharmonia.  (Any Northwestern student may audition for this orchestra).

After graduation and before pursuing advanced degrees, she would like to work for an NGO in the global health field. This summer she is doing research in Professor Silverman’s lab. 

From Wikipedia:

Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any form of government. The term originated from the United Nations (UN), and is normally used to refer to organizations that are not a part of the government and are not conventional for-profit business. In the cases in which NGOs are funded totally or partially by governments, the NGO maintains its non-governmental status by excluding government representatives from membership in the organization.

* “NU Bioscientists Program Overview

NU Bioscientists is a program for 30 incoming freshman who are excited about doing independent research in the biological/biomedical sciences.  NU Bioscientists students will take two specially-designed courses their freshman year to provide background and preparation for doing research, and will identify a laboratory and mentor for independent study during the summer following the freshman year.  The students in the program will form a community of peers who will be advised and mentored by the nuViBE Director and will continue to share research experiences through their upperclass years at Northwestern.”

From the nuViBE web site, Northwestern University Ventures in Biology Education

For additional information, here is the link to Olive Jung on the NU Bioscientists web site.

www.nuvibe.northwestern.edu/bioscientist/contact-details/?contact=104

As a physician-scientist-in-training, she is passionate about Asian-American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (AA&NHPI) representation at the leadership levels within the STEM field, as well as equity for black, indigenous, persons of color (BIPOC) communities for health and medical care. She has spent time on the AA&NHPI employment engagement portfolio committee at the NIH EDI office, and has also volunteered as a College Bridge Writing program tutor for the Petey Greene Program DC chapter during the pandemic."

Update submitted by Olive Jung on September 11, 2023

"Staying not too far from her initial desires to pursue legal studies adjunct major at the time of the fellowship, Olive is now a Master in Law (ML) degree candidate at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School where she is learning about the legal framework that defines and dictates how the healthcare system will be legislated, executed and reviewed in the US. She recently completed her doctoral studies (DPhil) at the University of Oxford where she had developed flow-based, 3-dimensional blood-brain barrier (BBB) models to investigate the biomechanics of ultrasound-mediated BBB opening. She will be heading back to Case Western Reserve School of Medicine for her clinical clerkships once she completes her ML degree.

Youssef Abdelhalim

STEM Scholarship Recipient, 2023

Youssef Abdelhalim (McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science) from Harrisburg, PA, is majoring in mechanical engineering with a concentration in aerospace. A member of the class of 2025, he expects to graduate with a Bachelor of Science as well as a Master’s degree. He hopes to become an automotive/aerospace engineer with the intention of going into industry to lead teams of innovators who could revolutionize the aerospace industry. The end goal is to help create more sustainable air travel.

Sophia Akinboro

STEM Scholarship Recipient, 2023

Sophia Akinboro (WCAS) from Brea, CA is a member of the class of 2025 and will earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Her majors are global health and neuroscience. She hopes to pursue an MD/PhD dual degree after graduating from Northwestern. Utilizing a global perspective stimulated by her studies, she plans to give back to her community and other underserved populations by providing community-centered care to those dealing with health issues.

Melany Morales

STEM Scholarship Recipient, 2023

Melany Morales (WCAS) from Hershey, PA, expects to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2025. She is a double major in neuroscience and psychology. She finds neuroscience interesting due to its multidisciplinary applications. Wanting to understand the human brain and how it works, she plans to focus on its development over time. Research is a passion that she hopes will enable her to become either a clinical psychologist or a neuroscientist.