My name is Kassandra Costin and I am from upstate New York. I have two Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Medical Technology. Following the completion of these degrees, I started working as a medical laboratory scientist for a hospital in western Massachusetts. After a year in that role, I spent five years working as a clinical laboratory analyst. As a clinical laboratory analyst, I was involved with optimizing the laboratory information system (LIS), integrating laboratory instrumentation with the LIS, integrating physician practices with the LIS, and working with the local Department of Health. A few months ago, I …

Lora Timmons has been a higher education professional for 27 years, holding a variety of different roles from faculty, academic advisor and director of education to dean at two mid-sized, private universities in Chicago. She currently serves as the dean for nursing and health care at GateWay Community College in Phoenix, Arizona, a huge move she made in the middle of COVID (since she has lived in the Chicago area her whole life)! Working with first-year students has consistently been a passion for Lora, so this career choice seemed to be the right move in a much larger educational system. …