Young Woman Earns Medicine Degree at Her Late Mother’s Alma Mater

After losing her mother at 14, Kevia Miles overcame adversity to earn a Biology degree from her mother’s alma mater, Jackson State University, secured a research internship in Sweden, and won a fully funded graduate scholarship in environmental science.

After losing her mother to cancer at just 14 years old, Kevia Miles turned her grief into determination and resilience. She has now graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology (Pre-Medicine track) from Jackson State University (JSU)—the very institution her mother once attended.

In an emotional post shared by the university, Kevia expressed, “I am filled with a profound sense of pride as I prepare to graduate from my mother’s alma mater.”

Kevia’s journey was marked by academic excellence and a commitment to growth. While at JSU, she earned a coveted internship in Sweden, participating in ICE TALKS 2024, a global research initiative in collaboration with the University of New Hampshire. The program, focused on climate change and glacier ecosystems, shifted her interests from cancer biology to environmental science.

She broke new ground as one of the first Black women in STEM to participate in the program, gaining not only research experience but also a broader vision for her future.

Her achievements include:

• A fully funded graduate scholarship at the University of New Hampshire
• A presentation slot at the 2024 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minoritized Scientists (ABRCMS) in Philadelphia

Reflecting on her journey, Kevia shared, “Jackson State has given me so much. Now it’s only right that I go out into the world and do everything I set my mind to.”

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Sources: ALLSCHOOL, SCHOLARSHIP REGION