Class of 2026: Hira Khan

Excited to start a new journey, but unsure of what that journey would look like.

A much stronger and more confident person. I’ve experienced significant personal growth over these past four years, learned a lot about myself and the endless possibilities, and developed lifelong skills that I can utilize anywhere.

The summer after my freshman year, I took part in a research project to establish a new garden with medicinal plants at the McDaniel Environmental Center. The next summer, I did research with Dr. Dana Ferraris in medicinal chemistry to optimize drug inhibitors to block a COVID-19 macrodomain. The summer after that, I did an internship at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, where I worked with bispecific antibodies against cancer in a Molecular Immunology lab. I made many valuable connections with people in my field and built upon my skills with each experience. My favorite experience during my time on the Hill was when I studied abroad in Hong Kong in Fall 2025. Exploring East Asia and all it has to offer was truly life-changing.

I’d have to say Senior Lecturer Carol Zaru. I joined her Arabic course in my sophomore year and loved her teaching style so much that I decided to complete the whole minor. She is incredibly compassionate and supportive, and I can talk to her about anything. I also want to mention Dr. Dana Ferraris for his guidance and encouragement in scientific research, and Dr. Amy McNichols for helping me develop intercultural skills and a global mindset.

Scientific Thinking Strategies with Dr. Cheng Huang. This First-Year Seminar course provided an exciting start to my college career; while challenging, it helped me establish a foundation for problem-solving and critical thinking, which are crucial in the world of science.

I’ve served as vice president of the Muslim Student Association since 2024 and helped plan our Iftar Gala every spring. I was treasurer of the TriBeta Biological Honor Society for a year, and I’m also a member of the Gamma Sigma Epsilon national chemistry honor society and the Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Beta Kappa honor societies. I got to be a teaching assistant for the General Chemistry lab for a year and help students make connections between lecture and lab. 

Throughout my time at McDaniel, I've greatly expanded my intercultural competence by being an active Global Fellow, developing fluency in Arabic and Mandarin Chinese, and studying abroad in Hong Kong. I've grown into a person who has a nuanced understanding of the world and can navigate new environments with ease.

What surprised me was how you can grab opportunities just by asking, or just by reaching out to a professor. The willingness to try new things is so important at this stage of life. Any experience, whether it seems interesting or not, will contribute to your skills overall and to your growth as a student and person. 

The porch next to the library. Whether it’s eating lunch with a friend, studying, or having a class outside, that is my go-to spot when the weather is warm. 

The most mind-boggling concept for me was enantiomers in organic chemistry, and how the mirror image of a molecule can have completely different properties despite having the same structure.

Biology: “Characterization of Bispecific Antibodies PD1XVEGF and S7XVEGF” and Global Fellows: “China’s Involvement in Global Genomics and Contributions to Precision Medicine.”

The Biology capstone is about two bispecific antibodies that had been designed to accelerate the immune response against cancer. The Global Fellows capstone focuses on China’s contributions to genomics research around the world and how it’s being used to create personalized treatments for patients based on their genetic information. 

After graduation, I plan to work as a researcher in industry and travel a bit before applying to graduate school.

I’ve made many close friendships and professional relationships here, with whom I’ll definitely keep in touch as I progress through my career, and I also plan to return for the annual Iftar Gala.

Financial aid was the number one factor that led to me choosing McDaniel. The generous scholarships I’ve received have made things easier on my family and have also allowed me to focus more on succeeding as a student.