COSAM News Articles 2022 April Mary Beth McCullough – 2022 Outstanding COSAM Learning Assistant (Biomedical Sciences)

Mary Beth McCullough – 2022 Outstanding COSAM Learning Assistant (Biomedical Sciences)

Published: 04/18/2022

Mary Beth McCullough is a senior graduating with a bachelor of science degree in biomedical sciences.

She has been involved in research with Gretchen Oliver’s Sports Medicine and Movement Lab in the School of Kinesiology. In the lab, Mary Beth’s research has involved working with athletes in overhead-throwing sports such as softball and baseball to determine how to better improve their sports performance while preventing injury.

At Auburn, Mary Beth serves as vice president of the STEM Coalition of United Learners, an organization in COSAM’s Office of Inclusion, Equity and Diversity, or OIED, designed to promote diversity within the STEM fields. Additionally, she serves as secretary of COSAM OIED Ambassadors who assist with OIED initiatives and actively engage in activities to advance diversity and inclusion.

Mary Beth is also an Auburn University Outreach Ambassador and assists students with becoming acclimated to campus. She is a member of the Alpha Epsilon Delta health pre-professional honor society, the Gamma Beta Phi society, and a social sorority.

This is Mary Beth’s sixth semester serving as an undergraduate learning assistant. She is currently a learning assistant for Engineering Physics I, but she has previously been a learning assistant in General Physics, Organismal Biology and Organic Chemistry I courses.

When asked what she enjoys most about being a learning assistant, Mary Beth stated, “I enjoy watching students become more confident in their knowledge as the semester progresses. Initially, they may struggle with a concept or ask for my help, but by end of the semester, they are doing more of the critical thinking themselves.”

Following graduation, Mary Beth plans to take a gap year to gain work experience before deciding on graduate school.