COSAM News Articles 2023 April 25th Anniversary Summer Bridge Program Alumni Spotlight: How the Bridge program helped Purdue veterinary student Naja Williams set goals for academic success

25th Anniversary Summer Bridge Program Alumni Spotlight: How the Bridge program helped Purdue veterinary student Naja Williams set goals for academic success

Published: 04/18/2023

By: Leslie Leak

A Birmingham native, Naja Williams graduated from Ramsay High School before heading to the Plains as a college freshman in 2017. The summer before starting her freshman year at Auburn University, Williams participated in a four-week academic and social support program in the College of Sciences and Mathematics, or COSAM, called STEM Summer Bridge.

Established in 1997, STEM Summer Bridge gives incoming freshmen the opportunity to enhance their science and math skills, develop and improve critical and analytical thinking skills, engage in professional development and career awareness activities, and network and build meaningful relationships with COSAM faculty, staff and fellow students as well as campus partners.

Williams found Summer Bridge to be a huge benefit as she started her first year as an undergraduate, recalling that the most helpful parts of the program were the developmental aspects of writing a personal statement and making goals for the future. Completing those tasks early on helped her later when applying for vet school.

For Williams, the Bridge program took away a lot of the anxiety that came with leaving home for the first time.

“I was able to build friendships, get adjusted to living on my own, learn the campus of Auburn and understand what my strengths and weaknesses were when it came to studying college courses,” said Williams. “I did not have to struggle once classes started in the fall.”

One of Williams’ favorite memories from Summer Bridge was sitting in the lobby of the dorm with the other participants doing assignments, playing games and joking around.

“Those are the moments that made friendships form,” Williams recalled. “Many of the Bridge participants are long lasting friends!”

Williams made meaningful connections with Auburn faculty during her time in Summer Bridge, stating that Kimberly Mulligan, COSAM Assistant Dean of Inclusion, Equity and Diversity, made an amazing impact during her academic journey.

“I was never a part of COSAM since my major was within the College of Agriculture, but Dr. Mulligan always made me feel welcome and continuously pushed me to become the best person I could be,” she said.

Williams graduated from Auburn in May 2021 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science and a minor in Business. She is currently a second-year veterinary student at Purdue University in Indiana graduating in May 2025 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) pursuing small animal medicine with an interest in internal medicine.

COSAM will host events throughout the 2022-23 academic year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Summer Bridge. Additionally, there is an initiative to raise $1 million dollars. These funds will be used by the COSAM Office of Inclusion, Equity, and Diversity to support initiatives such as creating an endowed professorship, providing study abroad opportunities, and expanding scholarship availability for deserving students. To learn more about the celebration and to donate, please visit the 25^th Anniversary website.