Tag: genetic counseling

For May graduate Kylie Towery, orange runs deeper than school spirit — it’s woven into her story. Raised in a Clemson family and shaped by undergrad years of service and involvement on campus, Kylie recently graduated from the Department of Genetics and Biochemistry ready to carry that legacy forward.

Throughout her time at Clemson University, Kylie made service a central part of her college experience. She dedicated much of her time to volunteering through Volunteers4LIFE, serving as a one-on-one mentor for ClemsonLIFE students as a traditional course volunteer and a Cooking Club volunteer. Beyond campus, she supported others as a volunteer with the Crisis Text Line and as a Child Life Department volunteer with Prisma Health Children’s Hospital–Upstate.

Aside from volunteer work, Kylie was a member of the Epsilon Tau Chapter of Kappa Delta Sorority, holding various leadership roles, played intramural volleyball and founded Clemson’s Pre-Genetic Counseling Club.

“During my final semester, I had the pleasure of founding the Pre-Genetic Counseling Club here on campus to give back to my Clemson community and help serve students prepare for a career in GC. I am beyond excited to be advising the club from afar for the years to come!”

For Kylie picking a favorite memory over the last four years is difficult. A few things come to mind immediately – from all the sporting events to building her sorority family to meeting other Clemson girls while studying abroad, and having her dad turn her Clemson ring – it’s hard to pick just one.

“I came to realize that while we are here for an education, we are also here to be happy, find friends, and make memories…I do think that the best memories in Clemson are formed on the nights you least expect it, and that is something I miss already.”

Kylie matched to her top choice genetic counseling program and will be moving to Houston to get her master’s at The University of Texas at MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences this fall.

“I found my passion for genetic counseling through Clemson and the Department of Genetics and Biochemistry have been given countless opportunities to chase that dream fearlessly since…It’s been a blessing.”

Senior genetics major Maggie Andrews dreams of becoming a genetics counselor, someone who helps people and families understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial impacts of genetic conditions – and she knows she is in the right place to meet her goals.

Like for many, the moment Maggie stepped on to Clemson’s campus it felt like home. She loved it for the small town feel and the love the alumni showed for the university.

“It was really evident from the beginning that Clemson is not a school that you go to for four years, it is a home you can return to for the rest of your life.”

Choosing her genetics major was an easy choice, knowing a genetics degree would prepare her for graduate school and her end goal of a career in genetic counseling.

“My course of study in Clemson’s genetics program has given me a thorough understanding of molecular genetics, which will prepare me for the next step in my educational and professional journey.”

In being part of the Department of Genetics and Biochemistry, Maggie has some of her best friends in classes – study partners turning into close confidants and classmates becoming a built-in support system. Even more so, Maggie notes the faculty have become incredible mentors and role models for her during her academic career.

“Whether it be a professor or academic advisor I have never felt alone on my educational journey. There is always a helping hand if you need it! That is super rare at a large university, and I feel it makes our department special!”

On campus, Maggie is a tutor for calculus and tutor mentor at Clemson’s Academic Success Center, where she assists in training tutors that support over 70 courses on Clemson’s campus. Additionally, she plays on the women’s club basketball team.

“Our women’s club basketball team travels and plays other colleges in the US. We even qualified and competed in Nationals last year in Madison, Wisconsin.”

Another large role that Maggie holds on campus is serving as the vice president of the IPTAY student Advisory Board, where she serves IPTAY and Clemson Athletics as a liaison for the Student body. As the vice president, Maggie promotes the Solid Orange Friday message and helps plan and execute exclusive events for the IPTAY Collegiate Club, which is an organization on campus with more than 9,000 members.

“Last year I helped organize a conference with three schools within the ACC to help facilitate conversations about student athletic donorships involvement across the Southeast region!”

Maggie keeps her academic breaks busy too by acting as a genetic counselor assistant as Levine Children’s Hospital Pediatric Genetics Department during her summer and winter breaks. Here she assists both genetic counselors and medical geneticists in both the inpatient and outpatient setting.

“I help collect DNA samples from patients, order and track genetic testing, consent patients and families for genetic testing, write letters of medical necessity to advocate for patients and write letters to school systems explaining genetic conditions!”

This job aligns perfectly with Maggie’s future plans to become a genetic counselor herself. After graduation, she plans to attend a genetic counseling master’s program to become a pediatric genetic counselor.