Making Students Welcome is Part of Her DNA

The Duquesne junior, who is earning a Biomedical Engineering and Nursing dual degree, also serves as director of orientation for the University, welcoming students as they settle into campus for the first time.

“When I was in high school, my sister was an orientation team leader at Duquesne and I knew right away it was something I wanted to do,” she said. “There are a lot of logistical components – events, dealing with vendors, arranging schedules – that I enjoy doing.”

Duquesne’s Orientation Program occurs about one week before the start of classes. In addition to helping new students move in to their dorms, the student-led orientation includes various programs and activities to introduce first-year students to campus and help relieve any early jitters.

“The goal is to make sure they feel welcome when they arrive and to let them know about the various support available to them as they begin their college experience,” she said.

For Wrubleski, working in a supporting role for Duquesne comes naturally. She said she knew she wanted to go to Duquesne when she was in middle school, and didn’t apply to other universities.

“Unlike other campuses, it feels like you are part of a community here. They welcome you from Day One and walk with you throughout your experience.”

What also made Duquesne attractive to Wrubleski was the University’s dual degree program, the first of its kind in the U.S. The program provides opportunities for students to experience both the research and clinical sides of health care.

“The Biomedical Engineering Program at Duquesne allows me to explore several disciplines, from understanding the nervous system to the use of prosthetics,” she said. “I work closely with my professors on areas of science that really matter to me.”

For Wrubleski, it also opened doors to pursue her interest in regenerative medicine, which looks for ways to replace damaged tissue or organs in the body, such as kidneys. She said she eventually hopes to become a doctor or medical researcher.

“There are a lot of opportunities to improve health care with regenerative medicine,” she said. “We look at how we can aid the body to heal itself. It’s a field with a lot of exciting opportunities.”

Working alongside faculty and fellow students, Wrubleski noted that the biomedical engineering class is tight-knit, allowing her to share ideas and learn together with her peers. One of her favorite classes was anatomy.

“The anatomy course looks at the human body from a logistics standpoint,” she said. “You learn so much by understanding all the body’s systems and how they work. It opens up so many possibilities to create new and better treatments. I love it.”