For Matthew Clarke, a proud native of St. Andrew, Jamaica, the path to his summer plans took an unexpected turn. As a rising senior at Barry University majoring in pre-professional biology, Matthew had been accepted into a prestigious summer research program on cancer biology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. However, due to funding cuts he found himself facing hurdles that put his original plans out of reach.

Still, he refused to let that be the end of his summer story. Matthew tapped into his network and leaned on faculty support to seek new opportunities. That persistence paid off when he landed a position as a cell biology teaching assistant for the SSP International program. There, he mentored and tutored academically gifted high school students from across the country.

For six intensive weeks at New Mexico State University, Matthew guided students as they used CRISPR gene-editing technology to study cell cycle genes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (baker’s yeast), making connections to human health and cancer biology.

“The opportunity to study in the U.S. has never been a right but a privilege,” Matthew said. “This opportunity was an avenue to give back to the country that has given me so much, and working to develop the next generation of young scientists was an honor.”

Matthew credits his Barry education and the dedicated faculty behind it for preparing him to succeed. He extends a special thank-you to Dr. Stephanie Bingham, who helped ensure he was academically and mentally ready for the experience.

Having taken rigorous courses like cell biology and biochemistry with mandatory labs, Matthew found it deeply rewarding to apply that knowledge in real-world settings. “The old adage says you’ve mastered a concept when you can explain it to a child,” he reflected. “This experience validated the high quality of instruction I’ve received at Barry.”

Among Matthew’s most cherished Barry memories is volunteering with the Podiatric Medical School on their annual mission trip to the Bahamas. Over the course of a week, the team provided free podiatric care to more than 1,000 patients, partnering with medical supply companies to deliver shoes and diabetic wound care supplies at no cost.

“This initiative truly embodies Barry’s core value of committing to a life of service while pursuing knowledge and truth. Our university is deeply dedicated to serving the underserved, and programs like these exist to address critical issues of equity and equality in healthcare,” Matthew shared.

From navigating unforeseen hurdles to inspiring future scientists, Matthew’s journey reflects the resilience, service, and academic excellence at the heart of the Barry experience. And if you ask him whether he’d do it all again, his steadfast and sharp answer remains: “Yes!”