Throughout the spring semester we are highlighting our senior Fighting Scots with the Senior Salute series. Today's featured senior is women's basketball's Ella Dean. Dean is a biochemistry and molecular biology major.
Q: Why did you choose to attend The College of Wooster?
A: I chose to attend Wooster because of its strong, close-knit community and the unique opportunities it offers for students pursuing medicine. During my visit, the basketball team was incredibly welcoming, and I felt that Wooster would become my second home.
Q: What does being a Fighting Scot student-athlete mean to you?
A: Being a Fighting Scot student-athlete means being part of something greater than myself. It means belonging to a community where everyone supports each other through challenges and encourages one another to grow both as athletes and as individuals. This sense of camaraderie has defined my experience at Wooster.
Q: What are some of your favorite memories as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: Several of my favorite memories as a student at Wooster involve my teammates. The annual Thanksgiving feast, game nights, and our team trip to New York City are just a few of the many special moments I have shared with them. One particularly memorable experience was our double-overtime win against Miami University-Hamilton during my sophomore season.
Q: What is the best part about being a student-athlete at The College of Wooster?
A: The best part about being a student-athlete at Wooster is being part of a team that I consider my second family. The strong relationships I have developed with my teammates, coaches, and campus community have been incredibly fulfilling.
Q: What else were you involved with on campus besides your sport?
A: I have served as a Health Coach, game operations assistant, and a peer tutor for organic chemistry and principles of biochemistry. Additionally, I have spent three years living in the Goodwill Service House on campus.
Q: Which College of Wooster faculty or staff member has made the greatest impact on you and why?
A: Dr. James West has made the greatest impact on me as a student. He challenged me in ways that no other professor had before, encouraging me to think critically, and encouraged me to understand concepts at a deeper level. His belief in my potential has consistently empowered me to exceed my own expectations.
Q: What other people or resources impacted your Wooster experience in a positive way and how did these people and resources set you up to be successful at Wooster?
A: Jamie Adler, our pre-health advisor, has been a wonderful support system throughout my time at Wooster. As a first-year student, she helped me create a four-year plan that has prepared me to be a competitive applicant for medical school. Additionally, all of my coaches have impacted my Wooster experience in a positive way. They have each challenged me to be a better leader.
Q: Tell us a bit about your Independent Study project?
A: My I.S. project studies thioredoxin reductase, an enzyme that partners with thioredoxin to maintain cellular redox balance in yeast. When a mutant of thioredoxin reductase is overexpressed, yeast growth stops. I am investigating the mechanism behind this growth arrest.
Q: Tell us a bit about something cool you did as a student at The College of Wooster?
A: During the summer after my junior year, I studied abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark, where I joined a research team that modeled Alzheimer's disease using human-induced pluripotent stem cells. Working in an international lab for the first time challenged me to adapt to different cultural norms and communication styles, which was an invaluable experience. However, my favorite part of studying abroad was sharing family dinners with my Danish roommates.
Q: Reflecting back on your time at Wooster, what advice would you give your first-year self?
A: I would tell my first-year self to focus on the process and the people, trusting that the results will come in time. When challenges arise, always find a reason to be grateful. Celebrating the good is a powerful way to persevere through difficult times.
Interested in becoming a Fighting Scot?
High school prospective student-athletes can click here to learn about our recruiting process, click here to view the virtual campus tour, and click here to learn more about admissions events, tours, and visit programs.
Transfer prospective student-athletes can click here to learn about our transfer recruiting process and use the links above for the virtual tour and admissions visit programs.
