Hometown
Chicago, Illinois
Major and Graduation
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, Expected Graduation: 2025
Student Organization Involvement
Chemistry Club, Student Committee for Research Affairs(SCRA), ARC Peer Tutors
Why did you choose your major/what do you want to do with your degree?
I chose chemistry both because I enjoy exploring the smallest elements of the universe and because there are many opportunities for discovery in the field. I hope to earn my PhD in chemistry and teach at the university level.
What is your favorite thing about the Camras Scholars Program?
I appreciate the community that the Camras Scholars Program offers. I can gain leadership skills, explore career opportunities, and give back to IIT and the surrounding community alongside like-minded peers.
Where do you see yourself in 20 years?
I see myself teaching chemistry at a moderately-sized university, helping students to feel the curiosity that led me into the field. Outside of work, I see myself tending to my garden, cooking, sewing, and reading.
How do you think you best represent what it means to be a Camras scholar?
This past academic year(22-23), I completed a Pillar Project that entailed hosting an event near finals week where IIT students could plant a mint or basil seed. The goal of the event was to promote the mental health of students in view of research that indicates a correlation between caring for plants and improved mental health.
Additionally, I served on the Teen Board of a local nonprofit organization for much of high school, where I helped organize projects and events to support isolated senior citizens, and I earned my Girl Scout Silver Award in 2018 for habitat restoration of a nearby nature preserve.
Contact
Email: azayia@hawk.iit.edu