Maitreyi Shrikhande

High school: Davenport Central

Hometown: Davenport, Iowa

Majors: Neuroscience; biology; pre-medicine

Activities: Women’s varsity tennis; Reading/Writing Center (RWC) tutor; Tri Beta, biological honor society; Psi Chi, international honor society in psychology; Chi Alpha Sigma, national collegiate athlete honor society; Augustana Leaders in Vocational Exploration (ALIVE) program, Student Athlete Advisory Committee 

Internships: Neurodevelopmental disorder research at Baylor College of Medicine through the Texas Medical Center Student Research Internship Program (TMC-SRIP); Vera French Mental Health Center

Post-grad plans: Continue working at the hospital and doing community work, while preparing to apply for medical school

Why Augustana?

I’m a local student and always imagined myself moving far away for college. However, when I went on my first formal visit to Augie, I was impressed with the relationships the students and faculty had built. I could tell that Augustana gave students the tools to succeed. That, paired with Augie’s excellent medical school acceptance rates and the opportunity to play collegiate tennis, made the choice clear.

Are you where you thought you'd be when you first came to campus?

Yes and no. I’ve uncovered passions that have given me clarity for the type of medical career I want to pursue. I was placed at the Vera French Carol Center by Dr. Allie Barringer and Dr. Jessica Schultz in the psychology department. I continued volunteering there and ended up partnering with a client to raise funds for safe, portable heaters for unsheltered individuals. I learned a ton and can now see myself working in a branch of health care that supports people in these situations.

Who helped you get to where you are now?

I am lucky to have my parents, Malavika and Devendra, for their unwavering support from school to sports.

The faculty has been there for me not only as a student, but as a person. My advisors, Dr. Ian Harrington and Dr. Young Yoo, gave me immense guidance. I had the pleasure of taking multiple classes with Dr. Daniel Corts and traveling to Morocco with him. I’ve learned so much about research from Dr. Shara Stough. Dr. Heidi Storl has been a huge source of support through the TMC-SRIP and beyond, and Beth Ford helped me land that dream internship! 

Dr. Scott Gehler has always been there to discuss tough biology concepts and life in general. Lucas Street and Dr. Jacob Romaniello have made the Reading/Writing Center a place of growth and fun. Pastor Melinda Pupillo, Dr. Michelle Crouch and Dr. Jason Mahn helped me reflect and discover my vocation through the ALIVE program.

And of course, my friends who have helped me through every high and low. Special shoutout to Maddy Harned!

Peak experience?

I have so many, but visiting Morocco was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I will never forget riding a camel at sunrise in the Sahara Desert! I was able to do this through Dr. Corts’ Cultural Psychology class. 

We spent three weeks in Morocco visiting numerous cities and historical sites, and I got to stay with an amazing host family that made me feel right at home. I made many new friends from Augie and Morocco on that trip.

What surprised you?

Becoming a Reading/Writing Center tutor was an unexpected highlight of my college experience. As a STEM student, I didn’t think such a job would be for me. Professor Sarah McDowell recommended me for it, and I discovered many connections between tutoring and health care, such as identifying the root cause of a problem and developing a plan of action.

How did you use your Augie Choice?

I used my Augie Choice to help pay for travel expenses while going to France with the tennis team! While there, we spent two full days at the French Open and drove around France playing local tennis clubs. We also visited Normandy, the Palace of Versailles and went up the Eiffel Tower.

What will you miss the most?

The people make the place, so it’ll definitely be the extraordinary friends and faculty I’ve met here. I’ll miss always being able to tell them, “See you tomorrow!”

Advice for the Class of 2030?

Remind yourself of the big picture. College can get tough: you may fail at things, not feel good enough or compare yourself to others. And you will definitely make mistakes! Everyone is on their own path, and where you are right now will teach you something. Just focus on trying your best.