Senior Salute - Emily Munson

Our "Senior Salute" series continues with Emily Munson, a biochemistry and molecular biology major from Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. Munson is a member of the track and field team.

Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster?
A: I chose to attend Wooster for the small class sizes, meaningful relationships with professors, the research opportunities, and the chance to continue competing in the sport I love. I wanted a college experience that would be meaningful inside and outside of the classroom while preparing me for post-grad.

Q: What does being a Fighting Scot student-athlete mean to you?
A: To me, being a Fighting Scot student-athlete means giving your all in class, in practice, and in competition while working to balance a busy schedule. It also means being part of an incredibly supportive community that is always rooting for you to succeed.

Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: Some of my favorite memories as a student at Wooster have been meeting my closest friends, working as a sophomore research assistant studying mosquito-borne viruses, and late-night C-store runs. I have really enjoyed trips with the track and field team including conference meets and our spring break trip where we have opportunities to bond as a team.

Q: What is the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster?
A: The best part about being a student-athlete at Wooster is the people, from my teammates and coaching staff to athletes on other teams. The people I have met through being on the track and field team have truly enhanced my experience at Wooster through lively conversations during warm-ups, encouraging each other through hard practices, cheering each other on at meets, and attending other competitions to support friends.   

Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport?
A: Besides being on the track and field team, I am in the sorority Delta Theta Psi and Beta Beta Beta, the biology honor society. I am also a tour guide and previously worked as a sophomore research assistant.

Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why?
A: The faculty member who has made the greatest impact on me is Dr. Stephanie Strand. She is an incredible professor who introduced me to the fascinating fields of microbiology and immunology. Dr. Strand is always happy to help if you have a question. She is also my Independent Study advisor. She has provided mentorship on my I.S. and has helped me grow my self-confidence as a scientist.

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: Coach Dennis Rice positively impacted my Wooster experience. He is always ready to talk about your goals for the season and how to achieve them. He also checks in to see how school and life off the track are going. Coach Rice is incredibly flexible with the practice schedule if you need to practice at another time because of a meeting or be late because of class. This has allowed me to balance being a successful student and athlete with less stress.

Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project?
A: I am investigating viruses that infect bacteria. I am interested in how bacteria evolve resistance to these viruses and whether becoming resistant to one virus can result in resistance to others.

Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: I had the opportunity to spend 10 weeks working in a lab studying human genetic diseases as a summer research intern in 2024. This allowed me to gain experience in the field I hope to go into and make incredibly meaningful connections who have helped me throughout the grad school application process.

Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what advice would you give your first-year self?
A: Reflecting back on my time at Wooster, I would tell my first-year self to not be afraid to get involved or attend an event, even if you are not sure you are going to know someone there. I would also tell myself to treasure each moment because these four years go fast.

Interested in becoming a Fighting Scot?  
Prospective student-athletes can click here to request more information from a coach, click here to view the virtual campus tour, and click here to learn more about admissions events, tours, and visit programs.