Victoria Levasseur

St. Louis, Mo. | Class of 2011

Major: Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Minors: Spanish and Music

"Cornell, with its unique block plan, appealed to me because I could continue to do the activities that I loved before entering college, such as playing the cello, volunteering, and being involved with extracurricular activities. I got a scholarship to play cello here, and I quickly discovered the science program was intense and sort of fun. The professors are incredibly supportive. And because of the block plan, I was able to study in Bolivia without missing courses, and that is something I couldn't have done on a semester plan."

• Favorite Course:
  Advanced Spanish Conversation in Bolivia. Spent a block living with a Bolivian family while studying language and culture.
• Conducted summer research on Parkinson's disease in Biology Professor Barbara Christie-Pope's lab.
• Part of Cornell LEADS: One of 18 students selected to attend leadership conferences throughout the Midwest.
• Cellist in Cornell string quartet.
• President and founder of Active Minds, a mental health awareness and resource group.
• Cornell Fellow in biochemistry at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas studying post-traumatic stress disorder for two blocks.
• Internship on migraines with Dr. Richard Kraig '71 in the Departments of Neurology and Neurobiology, Pharmacology & Physiology at the University of Chicago Medical Center. Connections and funding for this internship were created through Cornell's Dimensions: The Center for the Science and Culture of Healthcare.
• Summer internship at a medical clinic for low-income families in Cusco, Peru, partially paid for by Cornell's Levy fund.
• Resident assistant and student tutor
• Named to Phi Beta Kappa, the country's oldest and most widely respected academic honor society.