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Drew University Class of 2023 Outcomes: Karima Shifa

Karima Shifa C’23 will pursue a bachelors and masters in chemical engineering at Washington University of St. Louis

May 2023 – The members of the Drew University College of Liberal Arts Class of 2023 are set to graduate and start their careers and continue their education in an array of disciplines, fields, and subjects.

We’ve talked with many C’23 students to see where they’re headed.

Karima Shifa C’23 | Washington University in St. Louis Bachelors and Masters of Chemical Engineering

Major: Chemistry

How did you arrive at your post-grad plans?

Drew University has given me the opportunity to have these plans in the first place, through their Dual-Degree program with WashU. I was able to earn my chemistry degree at Drew and will be on an expedited track to earn two more degrees in chemical engineering at another fabulous institution.

How did Drew prepare you for this opportunity?

Having the networks and supplies to equip students like myself for our next steps after graduation was key. Having full support and guidance from faculty and staff to solidify these future plans shows me I’m not along and leaving Drew isn’t scary.

Do any Drew professors or experiences stand out?

Having the chance to work alongside my mentor [RISE fellow] Dr. Brian McKittrick really impacted me and influenced who I am today. He never gave up on me and always found ways to keep pushing me to my limit and really made me explore fields I would have never looked twice at. He is a really nice mentor who has a passion for drug discovery that is very contagious. If it weren’t for his continuous support and enthusiasm, my attitude and passion towards my fields would have faded after all the late night studies and hard work. The recognition and praise he gave to students’ work really did go a long way. I don’t think I would be where I am now or going if I never joined his TAG research team—our research molecule name that we synthesized from scratch to attempt the prevention of resistance to ovarian cancer treatment.

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