Biology Student Ambassadors Profiles

Sarah Beno is a senior Cellular and Molecular Biology major with a minor in Chemistry, and she’s from Albuquerque, NM. She’s also an Honors student currently working on her thesis in Dr. Solouki’s chemistry lab. After graduating, she is pursuing a PhD in Biochemistry to become a research director for industry labs. While at Baylor, Sarah’s worked with soil viruses through the SEA-PHAGES class, fish operculum in the Trumble lab, pathogenic yeast during her internship with the University of New Mexico, but above all, she loves her current research that uses mass spectrometry to characterize different organ tissue’s proteomes. In the spring of 2024, she was awarded the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, a national award for excellence in undergraduate STEM research. For three years, Sarah was a resident of the Honors Residential College (HRC), so she often recruits for the HRC and biology department at the same time... she is excited to serve as a Biology Ambassador for another year!

Maya Cappellino is a senior Cell and Molecular Biology major with a minor in Biochemistry from Orange County, California. After graduation, she plans to pursue a PhD in translational biology to prepare her for a career in therapeutic research. She engages in research on Baylor’s campus as a member of the Taube lab where she works to understand how dynamic alterations in chromatin looping structure can facilitate the epithelial to mesenchymal transition in metastasizing breast cancer cells. She has received the Jack G. and Noma Jean Folmar Research Grant to support her work. Over this past summer, she interned with MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Therapeutics Discovery Division where she aided in the development of important inhibitors. Maya also enjoys routinely serving as a panel moderator with Baylor Undergraduate Admissions, College of Arts and Sciences faculty, and fellow students to represent the departments of Biology and Biochemistry at university recruitment events. She looks forward to another year of being a Biology Ambassador!

Isioma Chiadika is a senior Biology major with a concentration in Global Health from Houston, TX. He is also Pre-med aiming to become a physician. Isioma is the treasurer of Baylor’s Music and Memory Club, which allows him to use his piano skills to give back to his local community. Since the beginning of his junior year, Isioma has been a tutor for Baylor’s Center of Academic Success and Student Engagement. This position has allowed him to support students in a variety of coursework. On the weekends, Isioma scribes in the emergency department for Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest. In the summer of 2022, Isioma participated in cancer research at BCM, focusing on T-cell therapies. This experience inspired Isioma to possibly pursue an oncology residency after medical school. Isioma is excited to serve the entire student body as a Biology Ambassador this school year. 

Hailey Cline is a sophomore Cell and Molecular Biology major from Frederick, Maryland on the Pre-Medical track. She is also a member of the Baylor Interdisciplinary Core (BIC) within the Honors College. During her freshman year, Hailey lived within Earle Hall in the Science and Health LLC and participated in the Laparoscopy Program, conducting research regarding the Effect of Odor Adjustments on Laparoscopic Surgical Simulation. She also went on a medical mission trip this past spring break serving the community in the Dominican Republic. On campus, Hailey is involved in Pre Health mentors, Alpha Phi, the Medical Student Organization (MSO) and Earle Hall Bible study. Through these organizations, she is able to build homes, make sandwiches, and more to serve the Baylor and Waco community. Hailey not only enjoys serving her community, but also traveling, choosing to study abroad in South Korea this past summer with fellow ambassador Alaina. Outside of school, Hailey enjoys reading, taking walks with her dog, and spending time with friends.

Alaina Le is a senior Biology of Global Health major with a Civic Interfaith Studies minor from Lafayette, LA. She’s also Baylor Interdisciplinary Core student in the Honors College and Pre-Medical student with goals of becoming a physician. Throughout her time at Baylor, she has developed a passion for public health and service. In her sophomore year, she hosted an HPV Vaccination campaign on campus and then contributed to cervical cancer prevention initiatives at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center during a summer internship. She also loves volunteering at middle schools in Waco through the Multicultural Association of Prehealth Students, and she served as an iBEARS research mentor in her junior year. This upcoming year, she looks forward to serving as the Vietnamese Students Association’s Service Chair and the Lead Biology Ambassador.

Piper Patterson is a sophomore majoring in Cell and Molecular Biology and hopes to minor in Korean when Baylor implements the program. She is a Pre-Medical student interested in oncology and surgery specialties from Houston, TX. Just before coming to university, Piper became certified as a medical assistant, patient care technician, and phlebotomy technician through the AMCA. During her first year at Baylor, she joined the Bears Medical Student Association and became very active in the Korean communities on campus. She always makes a point to attend Baylor’s Korean Conversion Table every week. She is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta honor society and a part of the Pre-Health Neighborhood in North Russell Hall. She also enjoys volunteering for Kids’ Meals Inc. in Houston, where she decorates and fills lunch bags for children in need. Her other hobbies include knitting, crocheting, and reading. This upcoming year, Piper is looking forward to joining this amazing group as a new Biology Student Ambassador.

Ava Roat is a junior Cell and Molecular Biology major with a secondary major in Spanish on the Pre-Medical track from New Braunfels, TX. Upon graduation from Baylor, Ava plans to apply to medical school, and she also hopes to further her passion for the Spanish language by pursuing a Fulbright Scholarship to conduct research in Spain. Throughout her time at Baylor Ava has participated in research regarding the transcriptional coactivator PGC-1a in mice and its implications for promoting angiogenesis in nutrient deprived and hypoxic environments in patients with Peripheral Artery Disease. Ava currently works as an undergraduate research assistant in the Lavado Lab studying the effects of diverse indole bacterial metabolites on the detoxification of xenobiotics within the cellular environment. Additionally, her work studies the ramifications of excessive cell proliferation induced by indole exposure with potential implications for cancer development and progression. Ava has served as a Learning Assistant for Dr. Luna’s BIO 2306 Genetics course for the past three semesters, and she is incredibly excited to continue as Dr. Luna’s Supplemental Instructor in the fall! Ava has also served as a Learning Assistant for Clinical Skills Course, she is a member of the Spanish Honor Society Sigma Delta Pi, and she volunteers at her local hospital in her spare time. Ava is looking forward to another fantastic year as a Biology Student Ambassador.