NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship Series: Emily Howerton '17

We're catching up with some of our NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipients to see what they have been up to since graduating from The College of Wooster. Our next former Fighting Scot in this series is Emily Howerton '17, a mathematics and philosophy alumna. Howerton is a Ph.D. student at Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania.

Q: Tell us a bit about your career path since you graduated from The College of Wooster?

A: I am a Ph.D. student at Penn State in the biology department. Before graduate school, I worked at a business management consulting firm in Cleveland. Both of these roles rely on mathematical modeling as a tool. (It's) used to design infectious disease management strategies in my current Ph.D. research and identified business opportunities in my previous job.

Q: Walk us through some of the key duties at your current job?

A: Currently, I have two main tasks as a graduate student: research and teaching. Research can take many forms, but for me, it means building mathematical models and corresponding computer simulations to assess potential public health interventions. In addition, I attend seminars and read the work of other scientists in academic journals. Finally, I turn my research into peer-reviewed publications. The publication-writing process is similar to I.S. (Independent Study), and many of the skills I learned at Wooster have transferred to graduate school. I also serve as a teaching assistant for an ecological modeling class, where I work with students to develop mathematical and computational skills.

Q: Tell us about any super-cool & unique experiences you've been a part of at your current job, or at a previous job?

A: At the start of the pandemic, my lab was pulled into multiple COVID-19 projects, and we've continued working very heavily in this arena. This has been an incredible learning experience. Imagine being trained to model infectious disease outbreaks and public health interventions in a (hopefully) once-in-100-years pandemic!

Q: Tell us about one or two professors or campus resources/organizations who really helped shape your career path and set you up for a high level of success after Wooster?

A: I owe a huge amount of thanks to Dr. John Ramsay and Dr. Evan Riley, among all of the outstanding professors in the mathematics and philosophy departments. Both Dr. Ramsay and Dr. Riley pushed me academically and supported me in my personal and professional journeys.

Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster?

A: The campus and the people felt right. This includes finding a golf team environment that was both welcoming and competitive. In addition, I was excited about Wooster's rigorous academic environment and breadth of co-curricular opportunities.

Q: What are some of your favorite memories about your time as a student-athlete at Wooster?

A: I will never forget winning the first tournament in program history. It was really a turning point for our team – we proved that we could compete, and the win set us up for success through the rest of my career. Of course, I also have many fond memories of our annual spring break trips to Hilton Head Island. They were always filled with fun, including getting to play golf on some amazing courses!

Q: Who were some of the key influencers or what were some of the key resources you utilized as a student-athlete that helped you balance out being a student and a highly-decorated athlete at the College?

A:  My time as a Wooster student-athlete was made possible by my coaches, Lisa Campanell Komara and Gary Welshhans, and my teammates. Coach Lisa has always been my greatest advocate. I knew she'd support me, push me, and count on me, all at the same time. Coach Gary was my ally on the course, helping me improve both the technical and mental aspects of my game. Last, but certainly not least, my teammates were my biggest support system, always ready with a hug, a smile, or a laugh.

Q: What did it mean to help put Wooster in the national spotlight as a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient?

A: Receiving the NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship was truly an honor. Without the opportunities that Wooster gave me, I wouldn't have been competitive for such an award. I'm truly grateful.

Read more on how Howerton's applied her Wooster experiences to responding to the coronavirus threat

• Alumna profile from May 12, 2020

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