Jocelyn Chow ’26 has challenged herself as an F&M student with sights set on medical school — and she is using the arts and student life as tools to get there.

Chow knew exactly what she wanted in a college. Identifying the school that could meet her standards, however, took some time — and a lot of campus tours.

“I was looking at a lot of liberal arts schools, and what I wanted out of my college experience was a chance to play cello and tennis…stellar academics and a solid pre-health program. And then I came across F&M,” she remembers. Her next-door neighbor, Jim Brooks ’98, spoke highly of F&M, so she checked out the College.

Her decision was cemented through meetings on campus. Brian Norcross, senior director of instrumental music and conducting studies, invited her to sit in on one of his conducting classes “even though I had no idea what I was doing.” Staff from the Center for Career and Professional Development and the College’s tennis coach also talked with her. “I just loved it,” she says.

"I love being able to pursue all the things that I want ... and financial aid has made that all possible for me."

— Jocelyn Chow '26

Chow, a public health major on the biology track, thrives in interdisciplinary fields where science and the humanities intersect. "I feel like doctors can't just be scientific machines; they need to be compassionate, and I feel like public health really embodies that," she says.

This desire to humanize medicine drives her involvement in research with Assistant Professor of Public Health Hollie Tripp. They are studying behavioral differences, including risk aversion, in smokers. They recently submitted their research, assessing the effectiveness and reception of cigarette warning labels, for publication.

But Chow’s time at F&M has been about more than academic pursuits. She’s earned Centennial Conference academic honors and recognition as an International Tennis Association scholar-athlete. She also performs in the College Orchestra, is a member of the Mu Epsilon Sigma national music honor society and Kappa Delta sorority. 

Chow credits these experiences with building her confidence and deepening her relationships across campus, giving her a network of friends and mentors who inspire and support her every step of the way — and encouraging her to provide similar opportunities for incoming students so they have the same robust network she had in her first year.

Philanthropy has played a crucial role in Chow’s story, and financial aid has allowed her to pursue her passions fully. She’s a recipient of the Russell Bleakeley, Jr., Class of 1935, Endowed Scholarship Fund.

“I love being able to play the cello,” she says. “I love being able to pursue all the things that I want, including the amazing public health program and all these opportunities through the tennis team. And financial aid has made that all possible for me.”

Thanks to the generosity of donors, Chow has thrived in an environment that nurtures her love for learning, sports, and music, giving her the freedom to explore her full potential.

During her junior year, Chow is studying in Switzerland, deepening her understanding of global health and development policy, providing yet another lens through which she can view public health as she prepares for medical school and a future dedicated to compassionate, patient-centered care.

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