A Slippery Rock University alumnus is proving to be a forward-thinking, emerging professional in the field of genetic counseling. Melana Vaughn, a 2025 SRU graduate with a degree in biology, is excelling as a master’s student at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. She is devoting herself to helping others by breaking down complex genetic information to help patients navigate health decisions.
Vaughn she is well on her way to achieving her dream thanks to her experiences at SRU.
“I had people surprised that I got into these selective programs coming from a smaller state school, but it’s not the size of the school that matters, it’s the connections that you make,” Vaughn said. “I got opportunities at SRU that made me stand out in ways that students from bigger schools don’t really have access to. So, I think if you want to get into this field, never let people tell you it’s impossible.”
Vaughn knew what she wanted to do professionally well before beginning her time at SRU.
“In middle school, I was a big fan of science and genetics,” Vaughn said. “I found all of it interesting, and the world of genetics has exploded since then.”
She chose SRU as the place to pursue this passion as easily as she identified it.
“I really wanted somewhere with a strong community,” said Vaughn, a native of Mercer (Lakeview HS). “I went to a smaller high school and I enjoyed knowing everyone, and I definitely found that at SRU.”
Vaughn also found quality mentorship at the University.
“The world of genetic counseling is very competitive, and there’s a high bar for entry, so having quality mentors really helped me to get a head start,” Vaughn said.
She said that SRU biology faculty members Martin Buckley and Stacy Hrizo were particularly important mentors who helped her find research opportunities.
Vaughn also took advantage of numerous internships and other extra-curricular experiences in her field during her time at SRU.
“I was able to secure a genetic counseling internship through Johns Hopkins University, and I got to travel to several different conferences and to network and to meet some really important people in my field,” Vaughn explained. “These experiences really helped me to be a good applicant for these competitive programs.”
More information about biology at SRU is available on the program’s webpage.
