{"id":16217,"date":"2026-04-23T13:37:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T17:37:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/?p=16217"},"modified":"2026-04-30T12:46:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T16:46:06","slug":"biomedical-researcher-to-honors-awardees-tell-your-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/sans-monthly-digest\/biomedical-researcher-to-honors-awardees-tell-your-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Biomedical researcher to honors awardees: &#8216;Tell your story&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"702\" src=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/04\/TD2-73rdConvocation-040226-6583.jpg\" alt=\"Successful biomedical researcher and UMES alumna Yasmin Roye gives the keynote speech at the 73rd Honors Convocation.\" class=\"wp-image-15929\" style=\"width:506px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/04\/TD2-73rdConvocation-040226-6583.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/04\/TD2-73rdConvocation-040226-6583-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/04\/TD2-73rdConvocation-040226-6583-768x527.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The U.S. gained a biomedical engineer who is contributing knowledge to research in cystic fibrosis thanks in part to UMES\u2019 School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences. <strong>Dr. Yasmin Roye<\/strong> (UMES Class of 2020), a scientist in Arkansas Children\u2019s Hospital\u2019s Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonology, returned to her alma mater as the guest speaker for the 73<sup>rd<\/sup> annual Honors Convocation on April 2, 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Roye, born and raised in Prince George\u2019s County, Maryland, attributes her success in the field to the state\u2019s foundational education system. Her instruction began as a youth involved in Maryland\u2019s Gifted and Talented program, progressing to the biology track in Oxon Hill High School\u2019s Science and Technology Program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At UMES, Roye was a participant of LSAMP, where she was mentored by Dr. Tracy Bell, published her first research project with Dr. Uche Udeochu in the Journal of Spectroscopy, explored microfluidic fabrication and the application of nanomaterials in Dr. Kausik Das\u2019 lab and researched the causes of neutrophil accumulation in the lung with Dr. Jennifer Bobenko.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Roye\u2019s work with Bobenko earned her a first-place award at UMES\u2019 Undergraduate Research Symposium for her poster titled, \u201cInvestigation of Neutrophil Sequestration Using a Lung Capillary Constriction Device.\u201d&nbsp;The surgical and immunology research took place during a summer 2019 Leadership Alliance internship at Brown University.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The budding scientist was awarded the 2020 Award of Excellence for the School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences along with the most outstanding student in the Department of Natural Sciences at the annual honors convocation. She graduated that year summa cum laude with a bachelor\u2019s degree in biochemistry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was not the typical year for the traditional honors convocation and graduation. The COVID-19  pandemic forced campus to go virtual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBut thanks to Dr. Michael Lane, President Heidi M. Anderson and the rest of the UMES team who put together as special of a moment as possible that turbulent year, virtually,\u201d Roye said.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"702\" src=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/04\/TD2-73rdConvocation-040226-6656.jpg\" alt=\"UMES President Heidi Anderson presents a plague to UMES alumna Yasmin Roye for giving the Honors Convocation keynote address.  Far right is Dr. Rondall Allen, provost and vice president for academic affairs.\" class=\"wp-image-15930\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.4587012987012986;width:600px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/04\/TD2-73rdConvocation-040226-6656.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/04\/TD2-73rdConvocation-040226-6656-300x206.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/04\/TD2-73rdConvocation-040226-6656-768x527.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>UMES President Heidi M. Anderson (left) presents a plague to UMES alumna Yasmin Roye (center) for giving UMES&#8217; 73rd Honors Convocation keynote address. Dr. Rondall Allen (right) provost and vice president for academic affairs was also present.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After graduation, Roye attended Duke University\u2019s biomedical engineering Ph.D. program as a William M. \u201cMonty\u201d Reichter Fellow and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Fellow, graduating in five years from the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Her message<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Addressing the next generation of high achievers, Roye said, \u201cFrom 1886 to 2026, a rich history has been made here that you are a part of. History is being made today, right now. You have got to tell your story: Don\u2019t allow anyone else to write it for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cTell about the struggles and small wins, the late-night study sessions in the basement of Frederick Douglass Library, that eureka moment when it\u2019s finally starting to make sense. Through every success, every trial and all that is in between, we are building our story, our passions and our legacy. We\u2019re shaping ourselves and the world around us. Brick by brick, keep building. Build by yourself, build with your neighbor, with those who have come before and after you. Tell your story, piece by piece. And just like Dr. Martin Luther King in his final speech from Memphis, soon \u2018you\u2019ll see the mountaintop\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Above: <\/em><\/strong><em>UMES President Heidi M. Anderson, left, presents a plague to UMES alumna Yasmin Roye for giving UMES&#8217; 73rd Honors Convocation keynote address. Dr. Rondall Allen, right,  provost and vice president for academic affairs, was also present.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><br><em>Gail Stephens, agricultural communications and media associate, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, <\/em><a href=\"mailto:gcstephens@umes.edu\"><em>gcstephens@umes.edu<\/em><\/a><em>., 410-621-3850.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Photos by Todd Dudek, agricultural communications, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES Extension, <\/em><a href=\"mailto:tdudek@umes.edu\"><em>tdudek@umes.edu<\/em><\/a><em>.<\/em> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The U.S. gained a biomedical engineer who is contributing knowledge to research in cystic fibrosis thanks in part to UMES\u2019 School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences. Dr. Yasmin Roye (UMES Class of 2020), a scientist in Arkansas Children\u2019s Hospital\u2019s Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonology, returned to her alma mater as the guest speaker for&#8230;<span class=\"cpschool-read-more-link-holder\"><a class=\"btn btn-basic cpschool-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/sans-monthly-digest\/biomedical-researcher-to-honors-awardees-tell-your-story\/\">Read more <span class=\"sr-only\">Biomedical researcher to honors awardees: &#8216;Tell your story&#8217;<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1168,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","wds_primary_category":40,"footnotes":""},"categories":[186,40],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-16217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-may-2026","category-sans-monthly-digest"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16217","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1168"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16217"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16217\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16217"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=16217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}