Graduating Senior Spotlight: Q&A with Tony Kamel

Did you participate in any student organizations, Learning Abroad programs, research or internship opportunities, or other related experiences? How have you learned from them?

I participated in two research experiences. The first was in my freshman year with the Dean's First-Year Research & Creative Scholars program. I studied how parents responded to the COVID-19 pandemic via protective behaviors with their children. My other research experience was with the Minnesota Dental Research Center for Biomaterials and Biomechanics in the School of Dentistry. I studied the use and betterment of the optical coherence tomography scanning technique. This was the research work I used to write my honors thesis.

What is your favorite class that you took in CLA? Is there a professor that you particularly enjoyed working with? How did they prepare you for the next phase of your life?

I enjoyed taking Human Physiology with Professor Dalay Olson. She was very helpful throughout the semester and ensured I had all the things I needed to succeed in a relatively rigorous course. She, alongside other professors specializing in specific areas of physiology, lended her expertise through her lectures and lab sessions to give me a clearer understanding of the human body and its functions. This information is generally crucial to have as a healthcare professional or simply as a patient in the future.

How would you describe your time in your major?

My time as a Biology, Society, and Environment major has been fruitful in understanding how science and humanities go hand in hand. This relationship is evident everyday of our lives in one way or another and BSE was the perfect major to introduce me to it. While being a student in STEM was my main goal, the experiences I had away from STEM were just as insightful, if not more.

What is your favorite study spot on campus?

My favorite study spot is Nils Hasselmo Hall. 

What's next for you? What are your post-graduation plans?

In August, I will enter dental school here at the U! The application process was tough but my years in undergrad at this university served me well to pull through and be accepted as one of the youngest students in my class!