Nyanbay Puok, a senior biomedical science major, didn’t always see herself staying in Lincoln. Born and raised in Nebraska to a South Sudanese family, and a proud graduate of College View Academy, she once planned to leave the city behind. “I wanted to get out of Lincoln as soon as possible,” she admitted. But everything changed during her senior year of high school.
That year, Puok discovered that Union offered more than she expected, especially its Biomedical Science and Chemistry Program, which allows students to tailor their degree emphases to align with preprofessional goals like medical or dental school. Add to that the opportunity to play college sports while staying close to home, and the decision started to make sense.
Encouraged by friends already enrolled at Union, many of whom were also student-athletes, she learned that faculty at Union were understanding and supportive when it came to balancing academics with athletics. With that reassurance, Puok took a leap of faith and enrolled with a pre-dental emphasis.
Now in her fourth year, Puok reflects on how much she’s grown academically, spiritually and personally. “Back in academy, I never built a relationship with God for myself,” she shared. “But once I was thrown into the freedom of college, I was able to build that relationship. I’ve experienced the transformative power that Jesus can have in a person’s life, their goals, and their aspirations.” That transformation extended to her confidence and academic motivation.
She recalls a turning point in her freshman year after a meeting with Christina Burden-Page, the director of the Biomedical Science and Chemistry Program. “She listed all the competencies we needed for graduate school, such as GPA, entrance exams, everything, and it all just seemed … attainable. I remember tearing up and thinking, ‘I can do this. I can do this.’” That moment lit a fire in her. She doubled down on her studies and started excelling in her classes. Eventually, job shadowing experiences through her Professional Development course inspired her to shift her focus from dentistry to medicine. With the continued guidance of Dr. Burden-Page and her academic advisor, she transitioned to a pre-medical emphasis.
Puok believes Union has prepared her well for her future. “The curriculum is rigorous, and the science courses really push us to develop critical thinking skills,” she said. “Those are skills I know will serve me on the MCAT, in med school, and eventually in patient care.”
Outside of the classroom, Puok has embraced leadership opportunities. As president of the Pre-Health Society, she helps organize events: from suturing workshops to service projects that build both community and career readiness. She has also played on both the volleyball and women’s basketball teams. Though balancing athletics and academics hasn’t been easy, the experience has taught her a lot about dedication and discipline. “There were times I wanted to skip practice because I had an exam the next day,” she said. “But I realized when you care about something, you make time. That commitment and discipline carry over into everything else.”
Puok’s journey is a testament to what the Biomedical Science and Chemistry Program strives for: nurturing students to grow spiritually, academically and socially. We are excited to see where her journey leads and how she, and so many of our students, will continue to impact the world.
by Kelly McWilliams, biology instructor