Hailey Adams was born and raised in Rolla, Missouri, so she always thought she knew almost everything there was to know about Missouri S&T. But she quickly found herself wishing she had known more about the community – which she now describes as a big group of people with the similar goals and dreams.  

“I didn’t grasp the full Missouri S&T experience until going here,” says Adams, a sophomore majoring in biological sciences. “But I knew S&T would be a great fit for me. I fell in love with science in my STEM classes in high school, which were led by S&T-trained teachers – I knew that since I loved those classes that S&T was the right fit for me.” 

Keeping busy 

Adams says that she has found new sources of inspiration from driven, hard-working campus community members who lead by example – specifically Dr. Merilee Krueger, Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor of psychology, and Heather Claypool, S&T’s cheerleading and dance head coach. And she has already found her favorite groups on campus, having joined the S&T Cheerleading Team, Chi Omega sorority, and the Biomedical Engineering Design Team.  

“Joining Chi Omega has been an amazing experience,” says Adams. “I’ve made new friends, learned how to work as a team and gained many leadership qualities.” 

Adams also says that the Biomedical Engineering Design Team has helped her think about biology in a different way. The team’s current project involves creating CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) systems for infants with breathing problems by scanning infant faces and 3D printing personalized masks. 

Future plans 

Adams is currently focusing her studies on microbiology and hopes to one day go into the medical field. She works at the local hospital, Phelps Health, as a unit coordinator for labor and delivery. In that role, she performs clerical duties such as answering patient queries, updating patient charts and files, and filing documents.   

“My dream job is to be an OBGYN,” says Adams. “I plan on attending medical school somewhere in Missouri. Women’s health is very important to me, and I plan on becoming the best doctor I can to help others.”