Millsaps College senior Lidia Melaku first learned about Millsaps at a college fair in her hometown of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. After speaking with a visiting representative from the office of admission, Melaku decided Millsaps was the next step on her path to medical school.
In addition to the college’s excellent pre-medical program and medical school admittance rate, Melaku was most excited about Millsaps’ community. “I was drawn to Millsaps because I liked the idea of being a part of a close-knit community where I would truly get to know my peers and professors,” Melaku said. “I was looking forward to forming meaningful connections.”
Her first taste of that community was during her freshman year in the Connections course “Drugs, Druggies and Druggists” taught by Dr. Amy Forbes, professor of history and chair of the history department.
“I absolutely loved the way she led the class discussion and presented topics,” Melaku said. “It was very engaging, and I liked how she was able to create a sense of community within the class.”
Melaku, who is pursuing a degree in neuroscience and minor in chemistry, has continued to feel that same sense of community and collaboration at Millsaps. She has also become close to many of her professors, including her mentor Dr. Kurt Thaw, professor of psychology and director of pre-health sciences.
“Dr. Thaw is an amazing mentor who takes every chance to present students with internships and opportunities that align with their interests, including my own internship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center,” Melaku said.
Melaku’s internship as a research assistant at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) has played a pivotal role in her career path. Melaku works in the Child Development division of the Department of Pediatrics and assists with the assessment of the cognitive and physical development of children in the neonatal intensive care unit.
“Millsaps has great connections with UMMC, which creates so many opportunities for students to shadow and perform research,” she said.
In addition to her studies and internship, Melaku is active in the Millsaps campus community. She is involved in Greek life and has served on the cabinet of her sorority, Phi Mu. She is also the secretary for the Millsaps Rotaract chapter, serves as a consultant for the Center for Academic Success and Excellence (CASE) and is the director of diversity and inclusion for the Student Body Association.
After graduation, Melaku plans to take a gap year and continue working in a medical setting in Jackson before attending medical school to become a neurologist. She credits the connections she has built at Millsaps for getting her this far.
“I don’t know if I would have stayed in the pre-med route if I had not been at Millsaps,” Melaku said. “I feel like having the opportunity to form real connections with my professors has helped me persist through it all.”