Senior Salute - Isabelle Dwyer

Our "Senior Salute" series continues with Isabelle Dwyer, a neurobiology major from Boardman, Ohio. Dwyer is a member of the cross country and track and field teams.

Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster?
A: I loved the atmosphere of campus. The people I met when visiting campus seemed so warm, welcoming, and genuine. Wooster seemed like a place I would very much like to be.

Q: What does being a Fighting Scot student-athlete mean to you?
A: It means hard work, dedication, and pushing your limits. It also means joy, confidence, and success. It has been a privilege to race with a Wooster jersey on.

Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: The North Coast Athletic Conference Championships for cross country are always really special. The team shows up with posters and cheers everyone on. The support and team comradery are overwhelming in the best ways at this meet and are everything that makes Wooster so special.

Q: What is the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster?
A: The best parts are the friendships you make, the ways you get to push yourself and redefine your potential, and the joy of watching your teammates accomplish their goals. Being a student-athlete at Wooster has made my experience here and is something I will forever be grateful to have had the opportunity to do.

Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport?
A: I currently work as a peer tutor. I previously was a tour guide for Admissions and a sophomore research assistant for Dr. Alfredo Zúñiga in the Neuroscience department. Dr. Zuniga in the Neuroscience department. My favorite role on campus is being a health coach in the community through the College's partnership with Wooster Community Hospital.

Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why?
A: Coach Dennis Rice is the first person to really push me out of my comfort zone, not only as runner. His undeniable belief in his athletes has gone a long way for me and has amounted to my success on the course and track. He has pushed me to accomplish things I never imagined possible for myself.

Q: What other people or resources impacted your Wooster experience in a positive way and how did these people and resources set you up to be successful at Wooster?
A: I feel I have developed close relationships with several of my professors who have helped me succeed in the classroom and navigate the world post-Wooster.

Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project?
A: I am investigating the interaction between two proteins, Tau and Nab2, which are involved in different neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's. I am using circadian rhythms in fruit flies to uncover the interaction.

Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: I worked as a summer research assistant for Dr. Zúñiga after my sophomore year at Wooster. My summer research experience enabled me to learn several different lab techniques and I had the opportunity to travel to neuroscience conferences at Baldwin Wallace University and Washington, D.C. to present our work.

Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what advice would you give your first-year self?
A: Be patient. Eventually everything will work out. You will achieve all the success in the classroom and on the course you have been hoping for; it just takes time. Keep working hard and stay confident. Everything that is meant for you will be yours.

Interested in becoming a Fighting Scot?  
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