Before Kendra Baker came to Northern Kentucky University with dreams of becoming a surgeon, she grew up in London, Kentucky, raising cows on a farm with her family. Now completing her senior year, the chemistry major is taking one big step closer to her goal, moving on to the University of Kentucky’s College of Medicine to advance her education.

Baker initially chose NKU for its selection of undergraduate research opportunities.

“Going into my freshman year, I was offered a position in a program within the chemistry department called Freshman Research Scholars, where I would be able to start working in a research lab during my first year,” she says. “I really liked my professors and my classmates, so I decided to stick with it.” 

Baker has been particularly passionate about the work she’s done as part of Dr. Lili Ma’s research group investigating new potential aromatase inhibitors to treat breast cancer.

“Dr. Ma is my favorite professor,” she says. “I have worked in her lab since I was a freshman, and she has helped me improve my understanding of organic chemistry, which has allowed me to work on many different projects and present my research findings at conferences.”

Throughout her time at NKU, Baker found belonging on campus and inside the classroom. One of her favorite classes was biochemistry, a course she says helped her “connect chemistry topics from different classes and relate them to the human body.”  

She spent much of her time on the fourth floor of the library—her favorite spot on campus—where she and her friends often worked together, studying and completing her assignments.  Among her favorite memories is a research conference trip to Indianapolis, where she and fellow members of Dr. Ma’s research group presented their work and explored the city. 

Now that graduation is behind her, Baker is already prepared for the next phase of her journey.  

“Getting my degree is the culmination of hard work and overcoming challenges over the years,” she says. “It also serves as a stepping stone to getting me one step closer to becoming a doctor.”