Member Spotlight: Megan Lindberg, Spring 2014 inductee

Post date: Jan 28, 2016 6:37:44 PM

My name is Megan Lindberg and I am a UMUC graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Biology—summa cum laude. Prior to UMUC, I served active duty in the Marine Corps at HMX-1 by providing electrical maintenance and communication security on the CH53E, CH46, VH-3D, and VH-60N helicopters. Upon my discharge from the military, I worked as a civilian contractor conducting mechanical maintenance on Sikorsky helicopters and then later worked for Boeing in northern Virginia. In 2013, my fiancé received military orders to Minneapolis Minnesota and asked if I would move with him. After long thought, I decided to make the move and focus fulltime on completing my bachelor’s degree.I later found myself entangled in a plethora of academic and professional activities. First, I began volunteering at my local hospital in the brain trauma unit in addition to my job teaching group fitness classes, personal training, and attending fulltime school. I participated in the Alpha Sigma Lambda honor society, Allies Mentoring Program, Peer Assisted Learning program, National Society for Leadership and Success and the Psychology Club. Collectively, my experiences as a fitness professional and time spent with as a Peer Leader helped me to realize that I have a passion for teaching. In my undergraduate studies I discovered that I possessed an aptitude for relating what I had learned about electrical circuits in the military to the biological processes that contribute to mentality.

Throughout my undergraduate studies, I have had some of the most encouraging mentors and professors: Frank Klein, Taniya Goshert-Hossain, Harold Katcher, Debra McLaughlin, Gro Torsethaugen, Beth Carpenter, Gretchen Schwartz—the list goes on and on. Thank you all for the impact you have had on my life. It has truly made me into the person that I am today, and without your influence and encouragement, I would not be chasing such ambitious dreams. It is my dream to have a successful career in neuroscience research, as well as and teach at the university level. In December 2016, I plan on applying to Georgetown University’s PhD program in neuroscience, and before then, I will be working on bettering myself professionally and academically.