I had the pleasure of meeting Savannah Reid when she was a first-semester freshman in Fall 2019.  I found her to be extremely bright but reserved. She always ensured she had a clear understanding of what was expected of her and critically thought about the subject matter. She began to stop by the chemistry lab before class just to watch lab prep and interact. I learned that Savannah is a first-generation college student who had been a dual-enrollment student at Salk the previous year. Her work culminated in her excelling in General Chemistry I and II. Currently, she is enrolled in Chemistry 399, an independent-study course that allows her to conduct computational chemistry research while learning how to write and present findings.  She has applied for a Magellan Grant and is being trained as the chemistry-lab assistant and as an Opportunity Scholars Program tutor. She was also accepted into the Summer Health Professions Educational Program at Florida State University and multiple research conferences for poster presentation prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Her work ethic, ability to catch on quickly, and drive will serve her as she strives to become a physical therapist.

Dr. Marquita Watkins
Professor of Chemistry