HC Graduates

Congrats to 2025 HC graduate Shahinaz El Sayed! Shahinaz earned an H.B.S in animal science with a minor in human development and family sciences and completed her thesis, “Feline Attachment Styles to Parents vs. Children in the Home,” under the mentorship of Dr. Monique Udell, a professor of animal and rangeland sciences in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Following graduation, Shahinaz will be taking time to explore more of Oregon and the Pacific Northwest before going on to grad school.

Congrats to 2025 HC graduate Nathan Pethick! Nathan earned an H.B.S in biology with a minor in chemistry and completed his thesis, “Testing the response of mid-intertidal prey communities after mass mortality of the keystone predator Pisaster ochraceus,” under the mentorship of Dr. Bruce Menge, OSU Distinguished Professor of integrative biology in the College of Science. After graduation, Nathan will be taking a gap year or two to work in a research lab before applying to Marine Ecology PhD programs.

Congrats to 2025 HC graduate Neera Butani! Neera earned an H.B.S in biology with a certificate in medical humanities and a minor in chemistry and completed her thesis, “The distribution of sex determining haplotypes in wild strawberry populations,” under the mentorship of Dr. Aaron Liston, an associate professor of botany and plant pathology in the College of Agricultural Sciences. Following graduation, Neera will be applying to medical school and traveling!

Congrats to 2025 HC graduate Eleni Kandas! Eleni earned an H.B.S in psychology and human development and family science with a minor in education and completed her thesis, “Preventing and treating traumatic birth experiences : recommendations from an acceptance & commitment therapy perspective,” under the mentorship of Dr. Melissa Cheyney, a professor of anthropology in the College of Liberal Arts. After graduation, Eleni will be pursuing a master's degree in Couples and Family Therapy at the University of Oregon.

Congrats to 2025 HC graduate Alaina Houser! Alaina earned an H.B.S in environmental science with a GIS certificate and completed her thesis, “The effect of environmental conditions on the shell composition of the Olympia oyster, Ostrea lurida,” under the mentorship of Dr. George Waldbusser, a professor of oceanography in the College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences. After graduation, Alaina will be working as a Faculty Research Assistant at OSU doing oyster research.

Congrats to 2025 HC graduate Reja Shakya! Reja earned an H.B.S in biochemistry and molecular biology with a certificate in medical humanities and a minor in chemistry and completed her thesis, “Characterization of growth and persistence of Chlamydia trachomatis treated with the representatives of the four quinolone generations,” under the mentorship of Dr. Daniel D. Rockey, a professor of bacteriology in the Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation, Reja will continue working in a hospital in the Portland area where she is a patient care technician while applying to medical schools.

Congrats to 2025 HC graduate Grace Proudfoot! Grace earned an H.B.S in biohealth sciences and completed her thesis, “Time-loss and non-time-loss and acute vs overuse patterns of soft tissue knee injuries in Division 1 athletes participating in basketball, volleyball, track and field and cross country,” under the mentorship of Dr. Cathleen Crowell Brown, a clinical professor of athletic training in the College of Health. Following graduation, Grace will be pursuing an MBA at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. 

Congrats to 2025 HC graduate Daisy Johnson! Daisy earned an H.B.S in biohealth sciences and completed her thesis, “Development of a SHIME protocol for preterm infants,” under the mentorship of Dr. Dave Dallas, an associate professor of the School of Nutrition and Public Health in the College of Health. After graduation, Daisy plans on attending PA school.

Congrats to 2025 HC graduate Brigitte Chenevert! Brigitte earned an H.B.S in marketing and completed her thesis, “Bridging the Gap: Understanding KEEN’s Brand Perception Through Consumer Narrative with ZMET Analysis,” under the mentorship of Dr. Brandon McAlexander, an instructor of marketing in the College of Business. Brigitte is currently working with a 3D printing technology startup on the side, and actively pursuing full-time opportunities in brand and digital marketing, especially in the fashion, athletics, agency, and entertainment spaces. After passionately pursuing her degree, leading the COB social media team, completing her Honors Thesis on brand perception, and working with brands like KEEN and SOREL, she is excited to bring that experience into a creative, fast-paced environment where she can keep learning, building, and growing her career!

Congrats to 2025 HC graduate Brian Zhou! Brian earned an H.B.S in bioengineering with a minor in chemistry and completed his thesis, “Sensitivity of Anaerobic Co-Digesters Experiencing Rapid Switches of Co-Substrates from Fats, Oils, and Greases to Food Waste,” under the mentorship of Dr. Tyler Radniecki, a professor of chemical, biological and environmental engineering in the College of Engineering. Following graduation, Brian will be pursuing a career in the bioengineering field.