Wendy Brown

Meet Biomedical Engineering Alumnus Wendy Brown

What do you want to do after graduation?

I actually graduated from Tech this past May. I'll be starting graduate school in UC Davis' Biomedical Engineering PhD program in September. I can't wait to continue my education on a higher level that is more specific to my interests. After I finish my PhD, I plan to attend medical school and then work as a reconstructive surgeon and develop regenerative technologies for use in surgery.

Does your outside interest have relation to your degree?

On the surface, professional cheerleading and dancing have nothing to do with biomedical engineering. Both however are centered around health and maximizing the functions of the human body. In my degree studies, I learned about the functions of the body systems, their natural repair mechanisms, and how to engineer technology to address the problems these systems encounter due to disease or age. Cheering professionally is much more than putting on a sparkly spandex top and dancing on a field. We are held to high standards of physical performance. To that end, I have become very interested in nutrition and fitness. I seek to learn everything I can so that I can tailor my training to maximize the natural functions of my body to maintain fitness.

What other activities are you involved in outside of class?

In addition to dancing for the Falcons, I take studio dance classes. I also really enjoy lifting weights and learning about nutrition, cooking and baking for my friends and family, sewing, watching movies, and shopping.

What does Tech offer you that other schools did not?

Everything about Tech fit. When visiting perspective schools my senior year of high school, I realized Tech's was the only campus I felt comfortable at, and I saw myself being happy. Obviously Tech is one of the premier academic universities in the world. The Biomedical Engineering program is ranked very highly, and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to work with such renowned faculty and be actively involved in research. I was also on the dance team (Goldrush) for 4 years, and I recognize without that dance experience and exposure to the world of professional cheering through my dance coach that I would never be in this position. And although everyone complains about how hard classes are at Tech, I respect the values that instills in students. We develop a work ethic and ambition that exceeds all others, and through our mutual suffering, if you will, we form a collaborative and supportive network that is not present at other schools.

10 words that describe yourself

Ambitious, determined, passionate, driven, persistent, romantic, inquisitive, loyal, genuine, blessed.

What would you say to those who feel torn between following one dream associated with beauty (cheerleadering, etc) and following another associated with science or engineering, or those that buy into the cheerleading stereotype?

Don't believe people when they tell you that you can't do something. There will always be someone trying to tear you down no matter what you do, so stop listening and work toward accomplishing your goals for yourself. And keep in mind that for every one person who says you can't accomplish something, there are 10 others that say you can and that think what you're working toward, whether cheer-related or academically, is amazing. Reach for the stars. There is no reason you can't have it all.