Biological sciences student chases her dream to become a veterinarian
Graduating biological sciences student Hannah McGraw will be attending Midwestern University's College of Veterinary Medicine this fall.
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2024 graduates.
Growing up, Hannah McGraw didn’t always know she wanted to major in biology when she went to college, but she was certain that she wanted to be a veterinarian. She later learned that “biology was just one of the steps in my plan to get to veterinary school.”
During her undergraduate career at ASU’s School of Life Sciences, McGraw was a recipient of ASU’s Provost Scholarship and held a job as a veterinary assistant, which drove her passion for caring for animals. “My experience working in veterinary clinics has shown me that I want to be part of a profession that helps those who don’t have a voice to help themselves.”
Her thesis project was on identifying smacoviruses in wild horses from the Salt River.
Smacoviruses are a group of small, circular single-stranded DNA viruses that infect various organisms including animals, plants and fungi. These viruses have been identified in a range of environmental samples and in association with diverse hosts, but their exact biological significance and potential pathogenicity are still not fully understood.
McGraw started her sample collection in 2022 and finished her project this spring.
“I have definitely learned perseverance through this process because the wait was worth it in the end," she said. "My findings were really exciting because the viruses in my study were the first ones identified in Arizona and it added a lot of diversity to the little knowledge known about this type of viruses and horses.”
After graduation, McGraw will be attending Midwestern University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in the fall.
Question: Why did you choose ASU?
Answer: I chose to go to ASU as it is really close to my childhood home and it was really important to me to stay close to my family. My sister now goes to ASU so it has been really fun experiencing college with her. I will never regret staying in my hometown for college because of all the extra memories I have made with my family.
Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?
A: Dr. Julie Murphree has made a lasting impression on me due to her kindness in and out of the classroom. I have taken two classes of hers and she was one of my committee members for my Barrett Honors thesis. She has shown me that she truly wants all of her students to succeed. She even volunteered to go out to the Salt River to do some field work with me for my thesis, which showed me she truly cares about my research. Even after the completion of my project, we’ve stayed in touch.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?
A: Don’t get overwhelmed with planning for after graduation. I know people put a lot of emphasis on knowing what you want to do right away, but it's OK to not know. It is important though to get involved with things you enjoy doing. This way you will have a variety of experience, but it also allows you to narrow down your options for after graduation. Even if it is just figuring out what hobbies you’d like to continue after school.
You also cannot compare yourself to others too much. This was a big thing I needed to work on while applying to veterinary school because everyone has a different path to get accepted and I just needed to be confident in the experience I had.
Q: What was your favorite spot on campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or just thinking about life?
A: I loved studying in Durham Hall. The common area on the first floor is very quiet yet has a large glass window looking out to campus which can help you feel connected.
Q: What are some of your favorite memories from your time as an undergraduate student? What surprised you about college?
A: I am surprised by how quickly four years went. I vividly remember being in Zoom classes at home as a freshman and now I’m about to graduate. My favorite on-campus memories were finding new spots to eat lunch with my dad every week. I recommend checking out The Chuckbox on University (Road) if you haven’t already!
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