Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program Class of 2026

Ashlyn Anderson, a native of Vilonia, Arkansas, is a 2021 graduate of the University of Central Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Minor in Honor’s Interdisciplinary Studies. During her time at UCA, she gained valuable experience as a Resident Assistant while contributing to academic research, co-authoring a scientific article concerning the impacts of late season defoliation and winter flooding on pin oak saplings published in Trees. For the past couple of years, she has worked as a medical assistant at The Woman’s Clinic, P.A., in Little Rock. She loves camping with her husband, traveling, immersing herself in the world of video games and tabletop gaming, watching movies, and spending quality time with her family.

Emily Claire Coates is a Mississippi native, hailing from the small town of Hazlehurst. She graduated from Mississippi State University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and a Minor in Psychology and Medical Humanities. In college, Emily Claire provided peer counseling to freshmen and advocated for human trafficking awareness initiatives in her community. She also served one year as a genetic counseling assistant at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), the only institution providing pediatric and prenatal genetic services in the state. During this gap year, she also volunteered with Crisis Text Line and helped coordinate a family fun day for UMMC cleft and craniofacial patients at the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science. Emily Claire is an avid reader of thriller and historical fiction novels, enjoys traveling the world with her family, and loves crafting Spotify playlist to match the seasons.

Mollie Langdon grew up in the Cincinnati, Ohio area. She graduated from the Ohio State University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and minors in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Substance Misuse and Addition. She volunteered for Crisis Text Line, the university’s hospital, and the Buddy Up Pickleball program. She has a background in research from undergraduate experience in a microbiology lab at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, studying different antibiotics’ ability to inhibit and disperse Salmonella biofilms. After graduation, she continued working at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital as a Genetic Laboratory Accessioner, where she gained experience triaging samples, communicating with ordering providers, and collaborating with a team of Laboratory Genetic Counselors. In her spare time, Mollie loves all things outdoors. She enjoys hiking and kayaking, is an avid birdwatcher and wildlife photographer, and loves sharing these hobbies with her husband Tyler.

Hannah Mendoza grew up in Forney, Texas. She studied zoology at Colorado State University, where she participated in undergraduate research in molecular evolution and worked as a peer academic mentor and resident assistant. After graduating in 2019, she obtained a medical assistant certification and worked as a medical assistant at a small family practice. In 2022, she moved to Pennsylvania to be a genetic counseling assistant with the Geisinger Cancer Genetics Clinic. Most recently, she spent a year with AmeriCorps serving as a mentor to middle school students in Central Texas. In her free time, Hannah enjoys reading, baking, and spending time outdoors.

Shelby Sherman grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. She graduated form Transylvania University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Molecular and cellular Biology with a minor in Sociology. During her undergraduate program, she held multiple leadership positions in the international service organization CKI including District Governor and participated in a wide variety of service projects and fundraising efforts. Following graduation, she began working as a Genetic Counseling Assistant at Norton Children’s Genetics Center in Louisville, Kentucky. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, going to concerts, and spending time with her cats.

Brooklyn Stocksdale was born and raised in Indiana. She graduated form Purdue University in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Genetics with minors in Chemistry and Psychology. During undergraduate, Brooklyn worked as a chemistry research assistant and a biology teaching intern. She was also a mentor in Purdue’s Women in Science Program and an educational ambassador for the center for Advocacy, Response and Education. During her summers, she worked as a phlebotomist and volunteered at a conservation center for black footed ferrets. After graduating, she spent time working as a Cancer Genetic Counseling Assistant at Norton Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. In her free time, Brooklyn enjoys reading and listening to music.

Sruthi Viswanathan was born in India, and grew up in South America, living in both Peru and Brazil. She graduated from Denison University (Ohio) in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Psychology and a Neuroscience concentration. She returned home to India to do a one-year internship at Medican Systems, Chennai. She then completed a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling from Manipal Academy of Higher Education in India in 2021. She worked as a junior research fellow at the Institute of Bioinformatics, on a project concerned with identifying the genetic etiologies of congenital conotruncal heart defects in an Indian population. Following that, she worked at Kauvery Hospital, setting up their genetics department and being attached to their Fetal Medicine department. During undergrad, Sruthi was the president of Denison Interfaith Dialogue, a group that sought to find the similarities and build bridges between people of different faiths and spiritualities. In her free time, Sruthi enjoys reading, writing short stories, and spending time with her spouse.

Melissa Wild was born and raised in Veracruz, Mexico. She pursued her undergraduate studies in the United States and graduated from Northeastern State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. As an undergraduate, she was a student athlete and captain of the tennis team while she helped develop a 3D printed capillary model for low vision and blind audiences as an education tool. Following graduation, she volunteered as a bilingual crisis text counselor and studied retinal vascular development as a research assistant at Harvard University and Mass Eye and Ear. Melissa moved to Little Rock, Arkansas to continue studying ischemic retinopathies and mentored incoming PhD students on laboratory techniques. During Melissa’s two years as a researcher, she was part of three publications and one review article. In her free time, Melissa enjoys coaching tennis, working out, calling her family, and going on dates with her husband.