“Choosing Mississippi State University felt like the right fit from the start. The moment I set foot on campus during my tour, it felt like home,” said Sydney Wicks, a 2021 Mississippi State graduate. “I knew I wanted to study psychology and sociology, and the College of Arts & Sciences gave me the tools and opportunities I needed to explore that passion while also building a strong foundation for my future.”

From genetics lessons to environmental education, Mississippi State researcher Lourdes Cardozo Gaibisso is working to make science more accessible for multilingual students. An assistant professor of TESOL and linguistics in MSU’s Department of English, Cardozo Gaibisso studies how multilingual students learn science and how educators can create more effective learning experiences. Through a Design-Based Research and Implementation (DBRI) approach, she develops, tests and refines instructional strategies that help connect science concepts to students’ languages, cultures and communities.

Macy Brecklein, a 2021 Mississippi State University graduate, first set her sights on MSU after touring the campus as a high school junior and immediately recognizing it as the place she belonged. “The people, campus, and educational opportunities were unmatched,” said Brecklein.