June Roush, WALSAA President

Spring Tidings, All!

Spring is nearly upon us, and with it comes the excitement of a new season, one of my favorites! This time of year, I’d like to take a moment to highlight one of the life sciences majors and a friend’s impressive accomplishments since her undergraduate years within CALS. 

In her time at CALS, Dr. Maria Dais, earned a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry, graduating with honors. I first met Maria during my freshman year, in a Meat and Animal Science course. We both lived in Chadbourne Hall, and as it turns out, she went to high school with my roommate. Since then, Maria and Joyce have remained some of my closest friends. While there are many stories I could share about our college days, let’s focus on academia and the diverse career paths that a CALS Biochemistry degree can provide!

How did CALS impact your life and influence your career path?
Maria: “CALS had a significant impact on shaping my career trajectory. I originally considered pursuing a pre-veterinary program, but after shadowing a veterinarian, I realized it wasn’t quite what I had imagined. Many of my peers were on a pre-med track, but I wasn’t sure that was the right fit for me either. I decided to explore other options. The biochemistry degree gave me the foundation to do research and later pursue a doctorate in pharmacy, where I secured a research assistant position right away. However, I soon realized that academia wasn’t the right path for me. I moved to Southern California and began exploring other career avenues.

I worked as a chemist at Radian Corp., an environmental consulting firm, before transitioning to a Research Associate role at Allergan in their R&D department, focusing on pharmacokinetics. After that, I wanted a more challenging and rewarding role that could offer greater job satisfaction and a timelier impact. Six years after graduating, my bachelor’s degree and transcript from UW-Madison were pivotal in my acceptance to the University of Vermont College of Medicine—there were 10,000 applicants for just 95 seats. I went on to complete a 5-year Radiology residency, followed by a 1-year fellowship at the University of California-San Francisco, specializing in Sonology, under the mentorship of the world-renowned Ruth Goldstein, who also earned her biochemistry degree from UW-Madison.”

Maria’s journey highlights the immense value of a biochemistry degree from CALS, with its comprehensive science courses providing a well-rounded foundation that is respected nationwide. As she puts it: “’You can do so much with this degree, and it is highly regarded across the country.”

Who at CALS impacted you in your field of study or professional development, and what did they do or say that made a difference?
Maria: “I can’t recall any specific names, but I do remember our first Stock Pavilion lab for Meat and Animal Science 101. We needed volunteers to help wrestle a sheep and trim its hooves. That was definitely a memorable initiation, but I think I did a pretty good job!”

Share a fond memory from your time at UW-Madison:
Maria: “There are so many fond memories, but one that stands out is attending the football games, especially during the 5th Quarter when the Band would run wildly onto the field, and we’d all polka in the stands. Another memory is walking two miles to class at the Stock Pavilion at 7:30 a.m. It felt like a post-apocalyptic journey, but it was also a reminder of the grit we needed to succeed.”

I hope you enjoyed learning about another aspect of the majors supported by WALSAA. Each year, we receive numerous scholarship applications from CALS students in the life sciences. The diverse coursework offered in CALS plays a vital role in building a strong foundation—ranging from animal and human sciences to food science nutrition and well-being—essential for students pursuing postgraduate aspirations.

In closing, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all who contributed to WALSAA’s year-end student scholarship appeal. Your generous donations are deeply appreciated by WALSAA members, friends and CALS students alike.

Best Regards,
June Meixelsperger Roush (B.S. 1987)