Alicia Bowen

Region: Long Island
Program Institution: SUC at Old Westbury

Education

College/University: SUC at Old Westbury
Major/Minor: B.S. Biochemistry
Graduation Date: 2009

Graduate School/University: The University of Maryland at College Park
Graduation Date: 2014

Significant Professional or Academic Accomplishments: Alicia Bowen graduated from SUNY Old Westbury in 2009 with a B.S. in biochemistry. She credits programs such as CSTEP with “propelling her through undergrad” and into the place she is today: currently a third-year graduate student and PhD Candidate in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at The University of Maryland at College Park. Alicia anticipates completion of her studies in 2014.

While a student at SUNY Old Westbury, she was a member of the C-STEP / AMP and MARC chapters. Participation in these organizations, afforded her many unique opportunities such as research fellowships at Yale University and El Instituto de Fermentaciones Industriales (IFI) in Madrid, Spain. She also conducted research at SUNY Old Westbury and received the 2009 Undergraduate Award in Inorganic Chemistry from the American Chemical Society (ACS). Additionally, she presented her research in several national and local conferences such as the Leadership Alliance Symposium, The Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS), the Annual C-STEP Symposium, and The Farmingdale State Research Symposium.

In a personal statement, Alicia says that as a first-generation college student, her parents were not in the position to help her pay for tuition or textbooks. With five other kids to take care of, they let her know that if college was something she really wanted to do, she would have to find a way to pay for it herself. “While dealing with the struggles of adjusting to life as an undergraduate student, I also had to work multiple jobs to pay for my education. The C-STEP/AMP book vouchers I received each semester were integral to my success as they allowed me to purchase books and supplies necessary for my courses. Without this extra support, my undergraduate career would have been far more stressful as I would have needed to find the money to pay for my supplies and study materials. Additionally, the program staff was so supportive and eventually became like a second family. They understood my unique situation and helped me make informed decisions about my future.”

When she entered college, Alicia says that she had aspirations of becoming a medical doctor. She attributes the experiences that she was afforded as a C-STEP / AMP and MARC student, with solidifying her desire to attend graduate school. “Seminars about both medical school and graduate school allowed students to make informed decisions about their future plans. It was through these seminars that I learned about the benefits of graduate school as well as the application process. Without the help of the C-STEP/AMP programs and outstanding staff, I can honestly say that I would not be in the position I am today.”

*Note: References to CSTEP are meant to include AMP. Programs are presented together.