BCoE Student Hall of Fame 2023: Sophie Jones

What is your name, age, classification and major?

Sophie Jones, 21, Senior, Biomedical Engineering

What year did you begin studying at MSU and when is your expected graduation date?

I began studying at MSU in 2019 and my expected graduation is May 2023.

Why did you choose to attend MSU, and why did you choose an engineering field of study?

I toured over ten universities, but it was not until visiting MSU that a student I didn’t know waved to me on campus and welcomed me to the university. Knowing that someone would care so much about their school that they would welcome a stranger, took me by surprise. It was this warm and kind spirit of MSU that made the campus feel like home. Additionally, MSU has a fantastic engineering program and the professors I talked to in the Department of Biomedical Engineering made me excited about the potential of the field and what I could bring to it. I have always been interested in medicine, and I love the idea of providing new medicines and tools that could help people on a larger scale.

What are your favorite campus organizations you have become a part of?

My favorite campus organization is Alumni Delegates. Alumni Delegates is the student organization that supports the Alumni Association. We are given the opportunity to interact with many incredible alumni who attribute much of their success to MSU. Alumni Delegates also introduced me to a deep community, a home away from home, where I became great friends with people I never would have met without Alumni Delegates. I also loved being a New Maroon Camp Counselor. Showing incoming freshman what they have to look forward to at MSU was a rewarding experience.

What has been your favorite course you have taken at MSU and why?

While my tissue engineering course is a very close second, my favorite course was my leadership class with Dr. Mark Keenum. I was really honored to be in the class and surrounded by notable leaders on campus. Dr. Keenum provided a lot of insight on critical leadership skills, and he brought speakers that were leading all over Mississippi which gave me context and perspective for life after college.

Which course has been your most challenging at MSU and why? What was something you learned about yourself after taking that course?

Chemistry was my most challenging course at MSU because I didn’t have study skills or the confidence that I could succeed yet. Chemistry taught me how to study effectively and why I should study in advance. Although it was just my first semester, and future classes had more difficult material to learn, I knew after finishing that course, my work ethic would determine my success.

What is one thing you have learned, related to engineering, during your time in the Bagley College of Engineering?

I have learned that engineers have endless opportunities. There are so many things you can do with an engineering degree, and especially so as a Mississippi State engineering graduate!

How has MSU and specifically the Bagley College of Engineering prepared you for professional life after college?

My classes have been an integral part of my learning experience at MSU and have prepared me well for professional life, but more than anything, the hands-on opportunities I was given developed me into the person I am today. Research in Dr. Priddy’s lab taught me a plethora of hands-on research skills and showed me what type of research I am passionate about and want to pursue as a career.

What are your plans after graduation?

After graduation, I plan to become a tissue engineer doing research and development for the biomedical industry. I will be getting married in July and moving to Hampton, Virginia.

What will you miss most about MSU after you graduate?

I owe so much of who I am today to the people at Mississippi State University. I will miss members of Alumni Delegates who pushed me to the best I can be as a leader, friend, and student. And professors like Dr. Priddy, who do everything in their power to set me up for success. MSU gave me my fiancée, my best friends, my future career and a lifelong love of bulldogs and cowbells. I may be leaving campus, but I will take MSU with me wherever I go.