Master of Science in Genetic Counseling Program Class of 2025

Courtney Cross is native to Fayetteville, Arkansas. She graduated from Baylor University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in biology with a minor in business administration. During her time in Waco, Texas, Courtney volunteered with various service projects through Baylor’s Medical Service Organization such as the Salvation Army soup kitchen, Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, etc. She was a camp counselor at Camp Ailihpomeh, a summer camp for boys with hemophilia as well as a mentor for children with Baylor Buddies Organization. Her passion for genetic counseling grew during her internship with Advocate Genetics, a remote fertility genetics company based in California. After graduation, she volunteered with multiple advocacy organizations including Crisis Text Line, ConnectMyVariant, Alzheimer’s Association and Arc of McLennan County. Courtney worked at a local hospital on a COVID-19 unit to take care of isolated patients during the pandemic. In her free time, Courtney enjoys going on walks, caring for her collection of houseplants, getting coffee with friends and attending sporting events.

Josie Heeren was born and raised in Kewanee, Illinois. She graduated from Coe College in 2022 with a Bachelor of Arts in biology and neuroscience with minors in chemistry and French. While in undergraduate school, Josie volunteered as a crisis counselor with Crisis Text Line and a domestic violence advocate with Waypoint in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She also worked as a supplemental instruction leader for the biology department teaching genetics. Following graduation, Josie worked as a genetic counselor assistant with GeneDx. In her spare time, Josie enjoys reading, traveling, attending Broadway shows, spending time with her cat and tending to her plants.

Emily Hefferle was born and raised in Saint Louis, Missouri. She graduated from Missouri State University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in cell and molecular biology with minors in chemistry and psychology. She also received certifications in health sciences and human genetics and genomics. During university, Emily volunteered with the Victim Center, an organization that provides services such as a 24-hour crisis response line, counseling and victim advocacy to victims of violent and sexual crimes at no cost. She also did undergraduate research in a genetics lab that studied bone abnormalities in Hurler syndrome patients as well as served as a course mentor for a human genetics course. In her free time, Emily enjoys singing, dancing, reading and writing poetry, hot yoga and going on park dates with her cat, Julius.

Madison Land is a Mississippi native who graduated from Mississippi State University in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences and minors in psychology and microbiology. During her time there, Madison was a human genetics course tutor and was involved in multiple campus organizations including Phi Beta Kappa Society, Involvement Ambassadors and Students for St. Jude. Madison enjoyed serving her community through volunteering at a rural hospital screening patients for COVID-19 during the height of the pandemic, being a pen pal for members of the disability community and helping individuals in crisis as a Crisis Text Line crisis counselor. In between semesters, she worked as a nursing assistant at a hospital back home where she was able to sharpen her patient care skills. After graduating from Mississippi State University, Madison accepted the position of genetic counseling assistant at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. This opportunity provided her with invaluable knowledge about genetic counseling, especially in the pediatric, prenatal, and metabolic specialties. In her free time, Madison can be found spending time outdoors, reading or hanging out with her friends, family and her cocker spaniel.

Anna Niswonger is from Findlay, Ohio, and grew up in both Ohio and Houston, Texas. She graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in molecular genetics. During university, Anna worked as an emergency medical technician-basic, as a behavioral therapist for children with autism, and volunteered with the Crisis Text Line. After graduating, she spent time working as a cancer genetic counselor assistant at Union Hospital in Terre Haute, Indiana, and Norton Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. In her free time, Anna enjoys watching documentaries and movies, baking, painting watercolors, staying active, traveling and spending time with friends and family.

Maggie Sturm was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in biology with minors in political science and psychology. During her undergraduate career, Maggie volunteered as a peer mentor for her sorority and was an active member of the Serving Older Adults student organization. After graduating, Maggie remained in Fayetteville, Arkansas, working as a bartender so that she could spend her days off shadowing genetic counselors at Highlands Oncology and volunteering regularly at the Cancer Support Home. In her free time, Maggie enjoys going on bike rides across Fayetteville, reading books of any and every genre and spending time with her two dogs, Saint and Rudy. She plans to continue her volunteer work throughout graduate school and looks forward to introducing her cohort to the great bike trails in Northwest Arkansas.

Kyle Sy was born in the Philippines but spent most of his childhood growing up in Little Rock, Arkansas. He graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science in biology. During his college years, Kyle was a peer mentor in the EMPOWER program for students with intellectual disabilities. Additionally, he was the vice president of the Filipino Students Organization and volunteered as a Crisis Text Line counselor. He is a student ambassador for the United Multiple Sulfatase Deficiency Foundation. Kyle loves to spend time with his family and pet corgi, floss his teeth and is always on the lookout for new experiences.

Jaren Whisler was born and raised in central Missouri. He graduated from Southwest Baptist University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in biology education. Jaren taught secondary and post-secondary biology and health courses for 12 years. He also graduated with a Master of Science in biology in 2016. Jaren and his family moved to northeast Pennsylvania, where he worked as a genetic counseling assistant at Geisinger’s Autism and Developmental Medicine Institute. In his free time, Jaren enjoys playing guitar, listening to podcasts, biking and spending time with his wife and three daughters.