Today@Sam Article
McNair Scholar Attends Prestigious Graduate Conference
Feb. 17, 2025
SHSU Media Contact: Campbell Atkins
Sam Houston State University biomedical sciences student J’Mya Hughes embarked on an enlightening educational journey to the University of Notre Dame’s Our Futures Weekend Jan. 30 – Feb. 2 in South Bend, Ind. The trip was yet another step towards her lofty aspirations, such as landing a leadership role in research, which have been greatly defined and developed during her time as a Bearkat.
“Sam Houston State really goes out of its way to provide opportunities for students, you just have to know what to do and how to apply,” Hughes said. “Being a Bearkat means so much to me. This university is so family and community oriented, and I love that they dedicate their time and effort to serving first-generation students like me.”
Hughes is a Houston native but spent much of her life in a small town outside of Austin called Marble Falls. She originally wanted to go into nursing before SHSU helped her find a new calling in research. After a positive experience at the University of Texas at Arlington, Hughes decided that a more intimate and personal approach to higher education fit her needs best.
“Here at Sam, professors know your name and notice you trying to engage with them,” she said. “I first noticed a good mix of the small-town vibes I was used to, but it also wasn’t far from the city I call home.”
Thanks to a plethora of helpful individuals, such as her mentor and assistant kinesiology professor Micheil Spillane, Hughes developed the research skills necessary to thrive in her new biomedical sciences major and was introduced to more and more opportunities. This ultimately led to her becoming a McNair Scholar.
“That just goes to show how far SHSU’s faculty are willing to go to help their students achieve their dreams,” she said. “I am very determined, and this work takes a lot of time, but they have helped me every step of the way with my research and presentation skills.”
Receiving the McNair Scholarship opened more doors for Hughes, including one that led to attending a summer conference at Baylor University in Waco, where she was introduced to Notre Dame personnel and learned of Our Futures Weekend for the first time.
“This transformative experience allowed me to refine my academic and professional goals while strengthening my commitment to making an impact in public health through advanced research and community-focused incentives,” she said. “My interests center on the role of nutrition in chronic diseases such as cancer, and how research in this area can shape public health initiatives that improve lives.”
The weekend event, hosted by Notre Dame’s graduate school, offered a chance for promising students to learn about the university’s advanced degree programs as well as tour facilities and network with key individuals. Participants' travel expenses to and from Notre Dame, as well as lodging and meals during the event, were covered by the university.
“This was really an eye-opening experience for me,” Hughes said. “Everyone there was so kind and warm. I got to tour some of their labs and was introduced to some of their doctoral students, who had nothing but great things to say to about the school and their programs.”
The weekend helped solidify Hughes’ future goals after earning her degree from the College of Science and Engineering Technology (COSET) in May of 2026.
“My main goal in life is for whatever I do in the lab to translate to the population,” she said. “I love doing research, but it needs to be purposeful. My goal is to take the research I am conducting now, and in the future, and turn it into progress in my community.”
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