Now a Senior majoring in Biology and minoring in Chemistry and Microbiology, Victoria Rychlak began her college journey at Montgomery County Community College (MCCC), transferring to GMercyU during her sophomore/junior year.
I am a huge family person, and transferring to Gwynedd Mercy University allowed me to stay close to home and the people I care about. The small class sizes at GMercyU also helped me form a new family as I had the opportunity to form close relationships with all my classmates and teachers, which was a great plus.
Campus Involvement
On campus, Victoria serves as President for the Student Association of Science (SAS), helping lead two successful fundraisers: a terrarium sale and a Christmas ornament sale. Her hope for the club as it continues to grow is to host events such as stargazing nights, assisting in a solar eclipse event, a tie-dye event, and many more in hopes of bringing people together through their interest in science. Through SAS, Victoria has gotten volunteer experience by assisting the Biology program in its effort to establish a monarch butterfly garden and helping at a Christmas event hosted by the Elmwood Park Zoo.
Victoria will soon be inducted into Sigma Zeta National Mathematics and Science Honor Society.
“It is an honor to be recognized for my years of hard work and dedication to my studies, and I look forward to being a part of this national honor society,” Victoria said.
Experience in Biology
Victoria has loved her experience in the Biology program. It has afforded her the opportunity to serve as a research assistant in summer 2022 under the direction of Biology faculty.
Through this experience, I was able to explore deeper connections between neurodegeneration and alcohol use disorder by studying the effects of ethanol alcohol on interleukin-13-induced microglia. It taught me many valuable skills and lessons that I will be able to apply to my career after graduation.
Victoria is expected to graduate in May 2024 and hopes to continue her passion for helping others by continuing her studies and entering the healthcare field.
