Emily Burns '19

It’s not uncommon for students in medical degree programs to have a desire to help people, but Belchertown native Emily Burns ’19, who earned her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience this spring, knows exactly what she wants to do with her degree: “I want to use the knowledge I have gained through my degree to educate the community about neurological and neurodegenerative disorders.”

Emily, who chose her major because she is “fascinated by the complexities of the brain and how it forms the foundation all of our life experiences,” was a member of Bay Path’s Women in STEM Honors Program, and was the 2019 recipient of the Bay Path Biomedical Scholar Research Award and the Bay Path Women in STEM Honors Excellence in Research Award. In 2018 she was selected for the National Science Foundation’s Research Experience for Undergraduates program, a competitive 10-week-long research-based program that takes place during the summer. She also presented at the 2019 National Conference on Undergraduate Research and Cognitive Neuroscience Society Annual Meeting. In a final nod to her undergraduate experience, Emily was selected to be a student speaker at Bay Path’s 2019 Commencement ceremony, representing all traditional undergraduate students.

Outside of the classroom, Emily has volunteered with Friends of the Homeless, Inc. and From Tween to Teen Girls' Group, which focuses on mental health awareness for adolescent girls in order to promote body positivity, healthy peer relationships, and self-awareness.

This summer, Emily is traveling abroad to Denmark with CISV International, a global peace education organization dedicated to promoting global friendship and cultural awareness for children all over the world. She will be representing the United States as the leader of a delegation in this program. Upon her return, she will continue to work as a professional tutor at Holyoke Community College and as a crisis counselor for a local organization. She looks forward to continuing her education by earning her Master of Science in Genetic Counseling.