Brittney Dye, Class of 2008
Biology major
Pickerington, Ohio
“I went to a huge high school, and I knew I wanted to go to a small school that promised individual attention."

A class in genetic counseling as a high school junior sealed the future for Brittney Dye, class of 2008 from Pickerington, Ohio. A strong science program at a small liberal arts college topped the list when she began her college search.

“I went to a huge high school,” Dye said, “and I knew I wanted to go to a small school that promised individual attention. In addition, I love science, and I had a strong sense of how I wanted to apply it for my future.”

A Wittenberg Matthies scholar, Dye received the Faculty Award for Outstanding Achievement in Biology, an honor given annually to the student with the most career potential in biology as well as overall academic achievement in both her junior and senior years. She has achieved academic honors from a variety of honorary societies, including the most prestigious national honor society, Phi Beta Kappa.

She was also named the 2008 Greek Woman of the Year. A member of Chi Omega sorority, Dye has served on the university’s Panhellenic Council and served as vice president of her chapter, on the housing committee, bylaws committee, and scholarship and alumni engagement committee. In addition to the friendships, the support system and fellowship, she has especially enjoyed the philanthropic activities the sorority conducts for the Make a Wish Foundation.

Community engagement is important to Dye. In addition to her formal community service, she has worked with the American Cancer Society, Rocking Horse Center and Project Jericho, At-Risk Youth Module. She co-founded Wittenberg’s Colleges against Cancer program and chaired the 2006-07 Relay for Life that earned a record $20,000.

An internship at the Cleveland Clinic during her junior year at Wittenberg in human genomics (trace genetics) involved working in both a laboratory and in a clinic with counselors. It helped Dye map out her future.

“I learned that I do not want to work in a lab all day,” Dye said. “I want to work in a hospital setting doing cancer genetics.”

Away from the classroom, Dye takes ballet classes with Associate Professor of Theatre and Dance Ligia Pinheiro. A dancer from the age of three, Dye even organized a hip hop dance troupe, Exodus, with eight Project Jericho students.

“I like to be busy,” Dye explained.

Graduate school for her master’s program is next for Dye. She will be required to practice in the field for five years before going back for her Ph.D.

 

 

-Written by: Phyllis Eberts '00
- Photo by: Robbie Gantt