Robert Braylock ’14
Pharmacy Major; Business Administration, Chemistry and Biology Minors
Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Robert E. Braylock chose The University of Findlay because of the supportive atmosphere and guaranteed acceptance offered by the zero to six program in the College of Pharmacy.
“With the zero to six pharmacy program, I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about competing with my fellow UF classmates to gain admission into the College of Pharmacy,” Braylock said, adding that generous financial aid also helped: “Out of the seven schools I was considering, UF had one of the best financial aid packages.”
Braylock, who is completing not only a pharmacy major but also minors in business administration, chemistry and biology, said he believes the demanding academic program has left him well prepared for a career.
“I definitely feel that I have been challenged academically by my course work. With pharmacy being a doctorate program, the professors make sure that we are not only challenged with regards to the difficulty of the material but also the amount of material covered,” he said. “This is done to help prepare us for the most demanding positions within pharmacy.”
Braylock hopes to take a position in corporate pharmacy with Walgreens following his graduation, as a step toward increasing minority representation in the pharmacy field.
An active member of the campus community, he is president of the Black Student Union, UF Anointed Worship Gospel Choir and Student National Pharmaceutical Association, as well as a mentor with the ASPIRE Mentoring Program, and a member of the Academy of Student Pharmacists, Pharmacy Student Leadership Council and Concert-Chorale. He was a resident assistant from 2008-10; a member of University Singers, a select choral and dance ensemble, for three years; served as a member of the Pharmacy Student Affairs Committee and the Student Government Association during his junior year; and was selected as Homecoming king in fall 2010.
He encouraged incoming students to get involved.
“UF offers so many different clubs and organizations that you can become a part of,” he said. “I came to UF not knowing anyone and by getting involved, I’ve made lifelong friends.
“The majority of my friends are not those that are in my academic program but those that I’ve met through different organizations,” he said. “From Gospel Choir to Pre-Vet Club, there’s an organization for every student on campus.”
Amanda McMullen M’11, D’11
Doctor of pharmacy and master of business administration
Hometown: Springfield, Ohio
“My successful completion of the rigorous pharmacy course work concurrently with the MBA course work is due largely, in part, to Findlay’s small class sizes and the motivation from my professors,” said McMullen.
Originally from Springfield, Ohio, Amanda McMullen did not believe that class size was important until she transferred from a large state university to The University of Findlay. With enrollment in general education classes at her previous university numbering in the hundreds, McMullen was enticed by the small class sizes that Findlay offered.The small class sizes motivated McMullen in more ways than one. With pharmacy classes capped at 35 students, the professors are able to develop relationships with all their students. “This was a large motivation factor, not only to make sure I attended classes early in the morning, but also a study motivator because I did not want to let my professors down by scoring poorly on an exam,” said McMullen. “I felt all of my professors were genuinely concerned with how I was developing as a student pharmacist, and many were open to chat whenever I had a concern or just needed a word of encouragement.” Pharmacy students are required to meet at least twice a year with a faculty member to plan, schedule and discuss their academic progress. McMullen noted that she was fortunate enough to have a faculty member who encouraged her to pursue an MBA in addition to a Pharm.D. No other student has ever successfully completed this combination at Findlay. McMullen also noted that the high standard to which the pharmacy faculty hold their students prepared her extremely well for her experiential rotation year. During the nine months of work experience during the rotational year, McMullen saw truth in what she had always heard about the ‘pharmacy world’ being small. “It is important to be involved and always conduct oneself in a professional manner in pharmacy because there is always someone nearby whom you may bump into at a later date,” she noted. The activities and opportunities that McMullen participated in during her collegiate career have fine-tuned her independent thinking skills and have also provided her with a diverse educational and experiential background.“Keep your eye on the prize no matter what is thrown your way. Intelligence can only take a person so far, but I feel drive and determination are the true keys to success,” McMullen offers to incoming students. McMullen will receive both a doctor of pharmacy and a master of business administration with a concentration in health care management in the spring of 2011. Her best memory of Findlay is the overall compilation of enjoyable times with a group of friends that “…can never be replaced.” She attributes her perseverance to the motivation and support from her friends. “The friendships I developed will last a lifetime. We are already starting to plan an annual trip just to keep in touch after graduation!”