Making Life Better

Biological Science Major

Erik Nkembe made the move to UGA and CAES because of Georgia football and its rich history. What he found was a place in its history, serving as the national vice president of MANRRS, the National Society for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences. He is the first student to hold an office at the national level from UGA. Hoping to attend medical school after completing his undergraduate degree in biological science, Nkembe is keeping an open mind and striving for success.

Erik's Student Profile

Name: Erik Nkembe
Hometown: Pavo, Ga.
Estimated semester/year of graduation: May 2009
Major: Biological Science

Q&A with Erik

What made you choose to attend UGA?

I chose to attend UGA because of its prestigious history, the campus, the people and, of course, Georgia football. Go Dawgs!

How many times have you changed your major? What made you settle on your current major?

Once. I changed my major to biological science from biology. I settled on biological science because I'm interested in biology, genetics and ecology and because I am interested in medical school. I also chose it because it is in the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. I love being in the CAES because it is a smaller college so it allows me to build a closer relationship with my professors, as well as with the deans.

What exposure did you have to agriculture before coming to CAES?

I am from a very small town in south Georgia where agriculture is the primary source of income for a lot of families. My grandfather and several close family friends were farmers so I have been exposed to agriculture my entire life.

What's your favorite class and why?

Ever since I was young I have had a fascination with biology and it has always been my favorite class.

Which instructor at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences has been the most influential?

Dr. Ronald Walcott has been my most influential instructor. Dr. Walcott has been my advisor for the student organization MANRRS, the National Society for Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences, for almost two years. He has always been very supportive and always has words of encouragement for me when I feel a little discouraged. Despite his demanding schedule, Dr. Walcott always makes time to discuss any issue I may be having problems with.

What's the most important thing you've learned this year?

It doesn’t matter how smart you are. If you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.

What's one thing you're always sure to take to class?

An open mind.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see myself either working as a physician’s assistant or working in research and development at an agriculture-related company.

What's the strangest or coolest thing that's happened to you at UGA?

Serving as president of MANRRS has to be the coolest thing. Serving in that position allowed me to better my leadership skills and has given me a lot of opportunities I may not have had otherwise. Serving as president of our local chapter gave me the courage to run for a national officer position and next year I will serve as the Region II National Vice President of MANRRS. I will be the first student from UGA to serve as a national officer of this organization.

Favorite thing to do outside class:

Watch movies. I really enjoy watching all types of movies and I have a very large collection. I also enjoy listening to music and hanging out with my friends.

Best advice for incoming freshmen:

Study, go to class everyday, and don't give up when things get difficult. I would also encourage them to not be afraid to ask for help if they need it. Everyone adjusts to new situations differently and there are plenty of people at UGA to make the transition an easy one.

One thing about yourself that sets you apart:

I am a very persistent person. When I set my mind to do something, I don't stop until I succeed. Being from a small town I had a lot of people tell me I would not be able to succeed at UGA because it would be difficult to adjust to such a large school. I'm constantly proving them wrong.