Chemistry Student Ambassador

Ethan is pursuing a B.S. in Chemistry with a biochemistry emphasis and a minor in math. He is also a member of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College. He is the treasurer of the Student Members of the American Chemical Society and also works as a Health Professions Advising Office ambassador.  

Why did you choose to attend UM?
Many factors drove me to attend the University of Mississippi. The main two factors were that I wanted to attend a college outside Texas and attend a university that promoted undergraduate research. When I came to tour Ole Miss, the guide talked about undergraduate research and helped ensure that this was the place for me!

When and why did you choose your major(s)/minors?
In high school, my favorite class was AP Chemistry. I had an excellent teacher and ended up having a fantastic experience in the class. Since then, I have wanted to pursue a degree in Chemistry. I chose to emphasize biochemistry because it includes many of the pre-med classes in its required courses. Lastly, I have a mathematics minor because it is built into the Chemistry degree.

What would you tell a high school student about your major? What is most important for them to know if they’re interested in pursuing that field of study?
I think it’s important to know that the Chemistry degree comes with many traditional “weed-out” classes. Organic Chemistry is probably one of the most well-known, especially for pre-meds. However, the course becomes more manageable if you try to reach out for help by attending Supplemental Instruction and the professor’s office hours. I also think it is crucial to get involved in research, and the chemistry department makes it very easy! I have truly learned the most about chemistry from my research. It’s an entirely different learning environment than a classroom.

Is there a professor who has been particularly helpful to you?
Many professors have helped me along my academic journey thus far, but the most influential is my research advisor Dr. Tanner. Furthermore, my academic advisor, Dr. Hammer, has been very supportive.

What has been one of your most memorable or enjoyable moments at UM?
One of the most memorable moments at UM has to be the football games. All of them have been a blast, and I love going with all my friends.

What do you hope to do after you graduate? What are your career goals/ plans for post graduation?
After graduation I hope to attend medical school.

What do you like to do outside of school (hobbies, interests, favorite places to go)?
My favorite place to go is Mi and Tea! I love their boba; it is a great setting to hang out with friends. For hobbies, I like to volunteer around campus and stay involved with the community.

What is one thing you wish you knew as an incoming freshman that you’d tell your past self (about the general college experience)?
I wish I knew how helpful office hours could be. I used to think it would be a hindrance to attend office hours since the professors could be doing more important things; however, it is quite the opposite. I was able to understand and grasp the things I was struggling with after I would attend office hours. So for an incoming freshman, I recommend always going to office hours if you are struggling.