student leader, involvement outside the classroom

Morgan Jones is a fourth year pharmacy major from Franklinton.

I have three step-siblings, and I am the oldest of the bunch.

During my time at ULM, I have been very involved as a student leader. For three years, I served as a member of the ULM 31 Ambassadors; I served as president for two of those years. As a professional student, I am a member of APhA-ASP, Phi Delta Chi, and the Rho Chi Society. I have also been a member of the Pre-Pharmacy Organization, Alpha Lambda Delta, and the Mortar Board National Honor Society. I have been employed by Winn-Dixie Pharmacy for the last seven years, and I continue to work as a student pharmacist on holidays or other school breaks.

As a future pharmacist, I can take advantage of many different professional opportunities. Currently, my plans are to pursue a general post-graduate residency and then a specialty residency in critical care medicine. Ultimately, I would like to practice clinical pharmacy in an ICU at a major teaching institution and possibly serve as an adjunct faculty for a college of pharmacy.

My favorite spot on campus would have to be the ULM Alumni Center. For three years, I spent many hours each week (and EVERY Tuesday night) at the alumni center as part of my duties with the 31 Ambassadors. Many of my favorite experiences and memories as a ULM student took place at the alumni center. It was a great place to work, learn, and interact with some of ULM's best students and employees, and to grow even more as a leader.

As an undergraduate student at ULM, I had the pleasure of taking organic chemistry I and II with Dr. Mark Arant. Dr. Arant not only made the subject matter interesting, but he genuinely took an interest in his students, their methods of learning, and their future career goals. He took the time to make sure that every student was learning, even though it required him to stay at work until very late hours. His passion for chemistry was very evident in his lectures, and he always made sure to relate what he was teaching to our future careers.

Many ULM memories have stuck with me over the years. As a 31 Ambassador, I remember the long bus ride to Lubbock, the late nights at the alumni center, and the exhilarating feeling after planning my first Oozeball tournament. My experiences as a member of APhA-ASP have also allowed me to interact with student pharmacists from across the country and to represent ULM at events in places like San Francisco, Calif. and Washington, DC.

ULM has given me the opportunity to grow as a professional student and a leader. When I came to college, I never expected to be as involved as I have been. I saw all of the opportunities that ULM offered outside of the classroom and immediately decided that it was something that I needed to do. Being an active student at ULM has allowed me to meet people who will influence my life both personally and professionally. The people I have met will shape my future as a pharmacist.