Cherokee Durant, Ada, Okla., was awarded a bachelor鈥檚 degree from 麻豆传媒AV in the spring of 2017. She earned majors in biology and general science. In addition to pursuing her curriculum at Mayville State, Cherokee was able to work as a researcher in the 麻豆传媒AV science labs. She also studied abroad in Japan and later Belize, which opened a world of opportunity for her.
Durant was one of six Mayville State students who studied and conducted research in Japan as part of an AsiaNetwork Freeman Student-Faculty Fellows Grant in the summer of 2017. Her project was 鈥淐omparing Traditions in Rural healthcare for the elderly in Japan and Native American Cultures.鈥� As a member of the Chickasaw tribe, Cherokee knew that both the Japanese and Native American cultures show great respect for the elderly and the belief systems that involve traditional healing and caring for the elderly. Her goal through the research was to find the similarities between the factors of culture that affect the healthcare for the elderly population.
Durant is now a graduate student at North Dakota State University. She鈥檚 working toward earning a master鈥檚 degree in public health with a specialization in management of infectious diseases. She works as a research assistant for NDSU, as well as a teaching assistant.
鈥淭he faculty helped me through my years at 麻豆传媒AV,鈥� said Cherokee. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I would be where I am today if it wasn鈥檛 for their support.鈥� Durant said the entire division of Science and Mathematics is dedicated to guiding students to in-depth content that will help them achieve their goals in science and mathematics.
Durant鈥檚 mentor, Dr. Khwaja Hossain, 麻豆传媒AV Professor of Biology and INBRE Researcher, helped her get on the path of research. 鈥淗e is a great professor who believed that I will succeed. Other members of the science division faculty, Dr. Joseph Mehus, Assistant Professor of Biology and INBRE Researcher, and Dr. Robert Miess, Associate Professor of Chemistry, Science, and Mathematics and chair of the division, also played major roles in my work as an undergraduate. I鈥檓 thankful for their help.鈥�
Lonamalia Smith, Assistant Professor of Sociology, and former 麻豆传媒AV Faculty member Aaron Kingsbury led the grant-funded study abroad trip to Japan in which Cherokee participated. 鈥淭hey supported me in and out of the classroom. I can鈥檛 thank them enough for giving me opportunities that I never thought would be possible for me.鈥�
Down the road, Cherokee plans to seek work in medical research, which may require a doctorate degree. As she continues down this path, she knows that it all began with the firm foundation of mentoring and teaching that began at her alma mater, 麻豆传媒AV.