From Middle Distance to Mayo: Nicole Marshall, ’25

Written by Monica VanDerWeide, ’95

An outstanding student and track athlete in high school with a strong interest in chemistry, Nicole Marshall thought she would attend a large university that offered lots of research opportunities for science majors. But after learning about Hillsdale from then-head track coach Andrew Towne, Nicole realized she could get the best of both academics and athletics—as well as incredible research opportunities and a caring community—at a small college.

“Hillsdale stood out from the other colleges I visited because its students were kind, welcoming, and happy,” she recalled. “I also met with Hillsdale’s preprofessional advisor and discovered that students here have access to every professor and to scientific equipment that you wouldn’t have access to at other schools.”

A middle-distance runner, Nicole added her talents to a track program with a long history of success. “We won the outdoor conference title my freshman year and were runners-up last year,” she said. She has improved her personal times over the years and credits assistant coach Brian Thill for the customized workouts he creates. And of course, the culture of camaraderie contributes to the team’s success. “My teammates are amazing,” she said. “We are pursuing something hard together. Many of them could have gone to Division I schools, but they wanted a strong academic program.”

Nicole has found that “strong academic program” to be life-changing as she discovers not only what profession she wants to pursue, but also the connections among disciplines gleaned through Hillsdale’s core courses and the relationships she’s developed with professors in science and non-science classes alike. A biochemistry major, she hopes to become a pediatrician. “I have a neurofibroma [nerve tumor] in my leg that I became aware of as a high school freshman,” she said. “As a teen, I was looking for answers about the condition but couldn’t find much. This led me to pediatrics because I can empathize with children and teens who have incurable conditions. I love the idea that I can be someone who could help make a person feel so much better.”

Biochemistry majors must complete one summer of research, so Nicole applied for six or seven internships last winter. The Mayo Clinic accepted her into its Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program, a ten-week, fully funded internship at its Rochester, Minnesota, campus. “I worked in a prostate cancer research lab,” she said. “I spent 40-50 hours each week conducting experiments, attending meetings, writing reports, and shadowing doctors in the clinic.” Nicole and her fellow interns also gave presentations on their research to physicians at the Mayo Clinic as well as at the National Institutes of Health KUH Undergraduate Research Symposium in Madison, Wisconsin.

“I’d go back in a heartbeat,” Nicole said of the experience. “It was fascinating to be mentored by scientists and physician-scientists who are conducting amazing research. I will be writing my biochemistry thesis on the research I did at Mayo.”

Now a junior with an exceptional grade-point average, Nicole serves as vice president of the Preprofessional Society, a co-curricular program for students interested in pursuing careers in medicine and allied health fields. “We do practice MCATs, mock interviews with medical school personnel, panel discussions with alumni in the medical field, and more,” she said.

As she continues her biochemistry studies, Nicole is grateful for the mentorship of the chemistry faculty, especially her advisor, Dr. Mark Nussbaum. “Science majors are fortunate because we get extra time with the professors in the laboratory,” she said. “It’s super interactive.” She values the relationships she has built with other faculty as well as their flexibility with student-athletes’ schedules. “Dr. Mumme [theology] has Friday tea time in his office simply because he wants to invest in his students no matter what their majors are,” she said. “Dr. Kuehler teaches me techniques for making a beautiful sound in piano lessons, and Dr. Barnes tells stories to integrate the psychology material we’re learning.”

Participating on the track team continues to provide Nicole with not only a social outlet, but also a structure and balance that helps her succeed in the classroom. “At track practice, I focus on the physical exertion and the time with teammates,” she said. “Then in the evening, my mind is refreshed and ready to hit the books.”

“Hillsdale changes you for the better,” Nicole said as she reflected on her Hillsdale experience. “You learn how reliant you are on God, but also how capable you are as a person. Your professors, coaches, and friends all encourage you to become a better version of yourself.”

Monica VanDerWeide is Director of Marketing Content for Hillsdale College. She graduated from Hillsdale in 1995 with a degree in English and German.

Reposted from the spring 2024 issue of Arete.