Reflections and next steps for Drew’s graduates
May 2026 – As the academic year ends, we turn our attention to the first steps the Drew University Class of 2026 will take as they share memories and appreciation for their time in The Forest.
Read on to learn where some of Drew’s outstanding students are headed next, and how their Drew experiences helped them reach their goals.
Devan Sutaria
Major/Minor: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major, Business minor
Hometown: Green Brook, New Jersey
Post-graduation plans: I will be headed to Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick to pursue a medical degree as part of their class of 2030!
Clubs/Sports/Interests: I competed on the baseball team as a pitcher for two years until a torn UCL required surgery, effectively ending my baseball career. My junior year, I joined our men’s tennis team, where I have competed in singles and doubles for the last two years. My first year, I opened a chapter of Global Medical Brigades, organizing two weeklong brigades to under-resourced communities in Panama, raising over $40,000 along the way and bringing care to over 400 Panamanians in impoverished communities. I have been an active researcher for the Research Institute for Scientists Emeriti (RISE) program, working with Dr. Bayne on a cancer-focused project seeking to improve chemotherapeutic efficacy of a specific class of drug. I am also a writer and sports section editor for the Drew Acorn, and served as a Writing Fellow for a first-year seminar this past year.
Favorite spot on campus: The EC.
Achievements at Drew: Phi Beta Kappa inductee for top 10 percent of graduating class, 2024 Collaborative Action Award, 2024 Student Leadership Award, Gamma Sigma Epsilon (Chemistry Honors Society), and Chi Alpha Sigma (Student-Athlete Honors Society).
Advice for Drew students: Drew provides endless opportunities to broaden your horizons, and I strongly urge you all to take advantage of as many as possible. The support system here is unparalleled, and will foster growth, development, and excellence in every facet of your life. Work hard, push yourself, and make memories every step of the way.
Reflection on your time at Drew: The decision to attend Drew is undoubtedly the greatest I’ve made. The relationships I’ve cultivated here, from my friends, teammates, coaches, and professors, will stay with me for life, and I’ve learned just as much about myself and the world around me as I have about biology and chemistry. Above all else, I’ve learned the values of maintaining diligence, motivation, and discipline while still enjoying every day and caring deeply for those around me.
Shoutouts: Too difficult to shout out only one, but thank you to Dr. Miller, Dr. Bayne, Dr. Dunaway, and Coach Geoff Diehl for your pivotal roles in my growth as far more than a student or tennis player, but as a person. I will never be able to tell the story of my time at Drew without centering the story around you all!
Haley Meierhofer
Majors/Minors: Double major in Psychology and Italian, double minor in Marketing and Education
Hometown: Livingston, New Jersey
Post-graduation plans: Drew’s MAT Program for Elementary Education.
Clubs/Sports/Interests: Social Media Coordinator for CIAO, SAAC President, member of the women’s softball team.
Favorite spot on campus: The softball field.
Achievements at Drew: Member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology; Gamma Kappa Alpha, the Italian Honor Society; Kappa Delta Pi, the International Honor Society in Education; Tau Chapter of Chi Alpha Sigma, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars; Phi Beta Kappa Honor society, which recognizes the top 10 percent of the graduating class; rarned a place on the Academic All-District Team two years in a row; and named 2023 Second Team All Conference, 2025 Second Team All Conference and Third Team All Region, and 2026 Landmark Player of the Week, and reached 100 career hits.
Advice for future Drew students: Take advantage of all the opportunities Drew has to offer!
Reflection on your time at Drew: Drew has given me the opportunity to grow and succeed both in the classroom and on the softball field. It has pushed me to become a better student and a stronger athlete. Along the way, I’ve been fortunate enough to build lifelong friendships. I am truly grateful for my experience at Drew and for all of the opportunities, memories, and relationships it has given me.
Shoutouts: The most notable experience was when I had the opportunity to study abroad in Orvieto, Italy, for a summer shortTrec. I got to stay with a host family which truly allowed me to be immersed in Italian culture. I took eight credits of classes, observed local businesses, and even had the chance to teach English to Italian children. On weekends, I explored Rome and Florence and absolutely fell in love with Italy and everything it has to offer.
Jonah Fine
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Hometown: Mannsfield, Massachusetts
Post-graduation plans: Heading to Pfizer to do synthetic biology research on bone mineral density before attending Boston University for my PhD in Organic Chemistry.
Clubs/Sports/Interests: Biology honors society; chemistry honors society; and Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity.
Favorite spot on campus: My favorite spot on campus is the Drew Arboretum and forest for relaxing walks throughout the week.
Achievements at Drew: Novartis Science Scholarship, Sidney Udenfriend Award, Cucchi Research Grant, Winifred Baldwin Award, and James Lyman McFadden Award. I’ve also published two papers in the Journal of Natural Products and Journal of Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry.
Advice for future Drew students: Take any opportunity that is presented in front of you. Coming from a small school like Drew, there are a lot of small things like being able to speak to professors frequently or attending local conferences that have ultimately helped my academic and career goals in larger ways than one could initially imagine. These opportunities are something that you have to physically reach out to and put in work to achieve, but lead to amazing experiences and connections for the future.
Reflection on your time at Drew: I’ve had an amazing experience at Drew with the connections I’ve made with professors and faculty, which has allowed me to gain meaningful experience like doing undergraduate research and multiple internships with Pfizer.
Shoutouts: Shout out to Dr. Singh, Dr. Gullo, and Dr. Perkins for all being amazing research mentors and helping me with my career path towards organic chemistry.
Alexa Santillan
Major/Minor: Double major in Chemistry (BS) ACS Traditional and Spanish
Hometown: Wharton, New Jersey
Post-graduation plans: Seton Hall University pursuing my PhD in chemistry.
Clubs/Sports/Interests: Empowerment in STEM (ESTEM) president for the 2025 academic year, Action Scholars, Educational Opportunity Scholars, and Academic Excellence Scholars.
Achievements: 2025 Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry on behalf of the American Chemical Society Division of Analytical Chemistry, Class of 1985 Senior Gift Award on behalf of the Center for Civic Engagement, Theta Mu Chapter of the Tri-Alpha Honors Society, Omicron Gamma Chapter of the Spanish Honors Society, Deans List for the 2025 academic year, Club Leader Awards for Senior Recognition and National Society of Leadership and Success Chapter, College of Liberal Arts Award in Spanish, Gold D Award.
Favorite spot on campus: The hydrozone in the chemistry department (especially when everyone met up there right before lab started).
Advice for Drew students: Take full advantage of every opportunity available to you – the education you are receiving is a privilege. Growth begins with your willingness to take initiative: step forward, get involved, and challenge yourself. You will find that everyone in this community, whether in the classroom or beyond it, genuinely wants to see you succeed. Lean into that support, and don’t be afraid to make the most of your time here!
Reflection on your time at Drew: My time at Drew has felt much like standing on a trampoline: what began as a place of uncertainty quickly became a space that lifted and propelled me in ways I never expected. Each experience acted as a spring, building on the last and pushing me toward growth, confidence, and purpose. Through research opportunities, I was able to challenge myself and contribute to meaningful academic work. Studying abroad expanded my perspective, allowing me to engage with new cultures and ways of thinking. My involvement in community projects and volunteering, both on and off campus, grounded me in service and reminded me of the importance of using my education to impact others. At the same time, the clubs and societies I became part of gave me a platform to develop and strengthen my leadership skills. These spaces encouraged me to take initiative, collaborate with others, and grow into a more confident and thoughtful leader. What made all of this possible was the constant support of the Drew community: professors, mentors, and friends who encouraged me to keep going even when things felt uncertain. Looking back, every opportunity added so much to my journey, shaping not only what I have accomplished, but who I have become!
Shoutouts: I’ve been really blessed to learn from and work with so many amazing people during my time at Drew. At the Center for Civic Engagement, Sean Hewitt, Mecca Madyun, and Jennifer Caldwell have been some of the best mentors I could have asked for. They’ve always been supportive, encouraging, and genuinely care about their students and the Drew community in a way that goes above and beyond.
I’m really grateful to the Chemistry Department as a whole, especially Dr. Andrea Lee, for all of her support in my research and for being such a great mentor through ESTEM and outreach opportunities. Also in chemistry, doing research with Dr. Kimberly Choquette has also been such a meaningful part of my experience. Being able to bring an analytical chemistry project to life not only challenged me, but also made me even more excited about research and what I want to pursue moving forward. The constant encouragement from the department has meant a lot to me!
In the Spanish Department, Dr. Raul Rosales made every class engaging and dynamic. He has a way of teaching that constantly pushed me to think deeper, connect what I was learning to the real world, and stay curious. I always felt like I was gaining something meaningful from his classes. Also in Spanish, Professor Monica Cantero Exojo made my study abroad experience in Barcelona unforgettable. Her support and dedication to her students created an enriching environment, and it truly made that experience special.
I’m incredibly thankful for every mentor who has guided, supported, and believed in me along the way, their impact has truly shaped my experience at Drew and I will always cherish all the lessons I have learned and advice I was given!
