Jamaican makes history at Fisk University in US

Sheanel Gardner embodied the motto of Campion College, ‘Steadfast in faith and good work’, – as she journeyed through Fisk University to emerge as its first bioinformatics graduate.

Reflecting on her earlier academic experiences, Gardner shared that she attained 12 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) subjects and five double units of Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) with distinctions.

The 23-year-old told The Gleaner that her initial goal was to pursue a medical degree at The University of the West Indies, Mona but with limited government grants which cover 80 per cent of tuition, it was deemed too expensive to pursue.

She took a gap year to figure out the next steps in her academic career and decided to pursue the pre-medicine track which began with a four-year bachelor’s degree.

After much preparation and rigorous studying, she successfully passed the SATs and received a partial academic scholarship to attend Fisk University in the fall of 2019.

“Deciding to move away from family and friends was one of the hardest decisions I had to make. I knew no one in Nashville, Tennessee and the thought of being there on my own was scary, but also exciting. I had to be confident in my decision and I knew that I was opening myself up to a plethora of opportunities that would only carry me further along the path of success. So, despite the language barriers, the odd-tasting foods and varying cultural habits, I was able to make genuine connections with many staff, peers and professors,” she detailed.

MAJOR IN BIOINFORMATICS

Gardner commenced studies at the historically black university, majoring in chemistry, but after taking a few computer science courses, she realised she could use the skills scientifically and transitioned to a major in bioinformatics.

“I found joy in being in the research laboratory, as well as using various coding languages and software to interpret and analyse scientific data. Thus, instead of being a chemistry pre-med student with goals to pursue medical school, I became the first bioinformatics major at Fisk University with a goal of pursuing my doctorate degree in computational biology,” the graduate recounted.

Being the first student to pursue the bioinformatics major, her department had to resolve a lot of kinks such as specific courses she was required to complete, qualifying examinations and research requirements.

Despite those academic struggles, she achieved a GPA of 3.9 or higher every semester while undertaking course loads which were often in excess of 18 credits.

That, however, afforded her the Latin honour of summa cum laude and placement on the dean’s list upon graduating.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Gardner faced many financial struggles.

“There were many semesters when it seemed it would be my last because of my large outstanding balance, but God made a way for me every time. I received additional scholarships from Fisk, numerous outside scholarships, grants and financial assistance from family and friends,” the graduate said.

She expressed that her large support system, academic talent and unwavering faith did not allow her to give up in the face of adversity.

“I appreciated my family’s support throughout my journey. They always encouraged me to believe that the sky was limitless and that my opportunities were endless. They valued my happiness and in my low times, although they were miles away, their immense support felt like they were right there with me holding me up. I thank them for their many prayers which kept me safe and secure. We all earned my degree together,” she said.

The student also recalled facing emotional struggles and becoming homesick when she was unable to visit her family due to COVID-19 restrictions.

But finding a church home centred her and provided the extra support system she needed to complete her four year university tenure.

WORKED MULTIPLE JOBS

She also worked multiple on-campus jobs and participated in summer internships to further fund her studies.

Gardner told The Gleaner that she was blessed with an internship every summer and had the privilege of being a research student intern at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and is currently a pharmaceutical development intern at a biotechnology company.

Throughout her tenure at Fisk, Gardner served in academic and leadership capacities.

With a recurring 3.9 GPA, she was selected to join The Phi Eta Sigma National Honour Society, the Phi Beta Kappa Honour Society, and the Beta Kappa Chi Scientific Honour Society.

She also served as a resident assistant, student ambassador, tutor, career peer mentor, Caribbean Student Association president, leadership and financial advancement scholar and member of the Tennessee-Thomas Louis Stokes Minority Participation Program.

Gardner was also the founder and president of the Fisk chess club, an achievement she holds dear.

“I was able to bring my passion and love for chess to Fisk after representing Jamaica at international and regional competitions in previous years. Campion College prepared me to be a well-rounded student, who possesses great academics and a large extracurricular background. This allowed me to be extremely active and involved on campus. The ability to consistently impact my environment and leave a legacy is an honourable feeling as a Jamaican international student,” she shared.

Her involvement granted her opportunities to travel to scientific conferences, chess competitions and research facilities in Alabama, Michigan, New York and California.

Gardner desires to use her academic skills to assist with bettering human health through scientific research and development.

judana.murphy@gleanerjm.com