Northern Illinois University
McKearn Fellows

Diana Alvarez is a Health Science major on the Nursing track. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school and become a nurse practitioner. As a Research Rookie, she researched how to improve early language interactions in children under the age of three. Alvarez is currently President of Bread for the World, a volunteer-based organization that fights to end world hunger. Outside of academics, she can be seen volunteering at various events around campus such as STEM Fest and the food pantry. Alvarez enjoys running and is very passionate about helping others. As a McKearn Fellow, she is excited to continue participating in research projects and to advance her professional development.

Amit Chaudhary hails from the country of the Himalayas, Nepal. Chaudhary is majoring in Mechanical Engineering. He is curious and likes learning things practically. He worked on an electric trike during his senior year in high school, and now he's part of NIU Supermileage, a team that builds vehicles from scratch.

Chaudhary plans to work with professors from different departments to conduct various research as a McKearn Fellow. He wants to work on lithium-ion batteries and electric vehicles to make them efficient and durable. He also wishes to conduct research at Argonne Lab related to Li-ion batteries with the connections he builds at NIU. Chaudhary sees the McKearn program as something that can help him sharpen his leadership qualities and make him a responsible global citizen. Also, he enjoys playing soccer, chess, video games, watching e-sports and singing.

Anna Scanlan is a double major in Media Studies and Psychology along with minors in English and History. At NIU, she is involved in the Research Rookies program, was the editor of The Luminary, a member of the Concert Choir in the School of Music, and writes novels in her free time. She plans to work towards earning a doctorate in screen cultures or media psychology after graduation, as well as pursue work on her own documentary filmmaking. Scanlan wants to study the impact entertainment media has on society’s collective historical memory and modern phenomena and events. She sees the McKearn Fellows program as a way to gain more research experience, grow her professional network, and partake in opportunities that allow insight into different perspectives.

Yaileen Velazquez is embarking on the pre-med path with a major in biological sciences along with a minor in Chemistry. After her undergraduate years at NIU, she plans to attend medical school and become an OB/GYN. While obtaining her profession as well as when she acquires her profession, she hopes to advocate for women’s health in underserved areas, promote diversity in medicine, and advocate to end health disparities. She is currently a member of the University Honors Program, Pre-Professional Association, De Mujer a Mujer, and participated in the Research Rookies program, where she investigated the external/internal reasons that lead to a sexual assault survivors reporting their sexual assault through content qualitative analysis of public tweets.

Off-campus, she is a mentee under the I Am Abel foundation, a medical mentoring program that promotes achievement amongst underrepresented groups in medicine. Outside of academics, she enjoys completing puzzles, crocheting, and spending time with family. She is ecstatic about the doors the McKearn Fellows Program will open for her as well as the opportunities she will have to give back to her community.

Emma Whitlock is a biology major and is seeking to double minor in Chemistry and Spanish. After graduating from NIU, she plans to continue her education by attending medical school to become a surgeon. She is involved with the Student Health Organization and volunteers at different events both on and off campus. This past year, she has been involved in Research Rookies, where she researched lithium-ion batteries with a group in the Chemistry Department. Outside of school, she enjoys completing art projects, playing sports, and traveling. Through the McKearn Fellows program, she hopes to continue research and take part in the opportunities made available to her.

Aidan Bengford is a double major in Political Science and English along with a minor in History. Bengford plans to work towards earning a Juris Doctorate after graduation. He served as Senior Patrol Leader of his Boy Scout troop and has earned his eagle. Bengford is participating in the NIU Mock Trial Team, is a reporter for the Northern Star, and is a part of Sunrise DeKalb. This summer he will start helping Dr. Andzik do research into the evolution of the portrayal of diabilities in film in the past two decades. Outside of his vocational interests, Bengford enjoys hiking, camping, watching films, and playing video games. He sees the McKearn Fellows program as a way to heighten not only his academic skills, but also more tangible skills that will make a difference on the world that people can feel. He hopes to do this through involvement in internship programs, learning skills directly from the source.

Caitlin Hensley majors in Actuarial Science with a minor in Finance. She was the treasurer of the NIU Actuary Club and a member of the NIU Financial Management Association. Outside of academics, Hensley enjoys playing volleyball, going boating, and spending time with her friends and family. After graduating, she plans to become an actuary. She has always wanted to pursue a career that built on her love of mathematics. As a McKearn Fellow, Hensley hopes to advance her academic career as well as to be able to give back to the community.

Emily Herbert is majoring in Biomedical Engineering with a double minor in Public Health and Music. She is a member of the Society of Women Engineers and the Biomedical Engineering Society. Outside of engineering, she is involved in the music program as a pianist and can't wait to play in concert and jazz ensembles. In the past, she participated as a researcher in the International Student Science Fair in Thailand and hopes to get involved in more research through the Research Rookies program. She looks forward to joining the McKearn Fellows and utilizing all of the opportunities it opens.

Yousuf Khan is a Marketing major and also on the Pre-Medicine track. After graduation he plans to attend medical school and pursue a career in psychiatry. Khan participated in Research Rookies, where he researched the appearance of tonic immobility in fish. Additionally, Khan is involved with OHANA, New Hall Community Council, an Orientation Leader, and on the e-board of the Pre-Professional Association. Khan is passionate about multicultural dialogue as well as addressing health disparities. As a McKearn Fellow, he hopes to participate in research regarding equitable access to mental health services. Additionally, he is excited to contribute to the NIU community and have opportunities for professional development.

Merveille "Yvette" Muyizere is a student with a double major in Biology and French. Her goal is to attend medical school after college with hopes of becoming a surgeon one day. Muyizere was part of the NIU Research Rookies this past year where she studied the ecosystem impact of native and non-native plants, and she volunteered a lot in hospitals and organizations such as Batavia Food Pantry. Muyizere fell in love with the NIU community and decided to engage in activities such as student health organization and the Alpha Omega Epsilon sorority. Her hobbies include learning languages such as Japanese, Chinese and Korean, and she also likes to play the guitar in her free time. Muyizere has always loved helping people and hopes to become a missionary surgeon one day after her studies.