Shaping Her Future – Miranda Gilfillan

When Miranda Gilfillan, ’16, came to Meredith College as a freshman transfer student, she had no idea what she wanted to study. After one math class, her path became clear.

“I took calculus to fill a general education requirement – fully intending to be done with math after that class – but then I found myself falling in love with the concepts. The amazing math faculty gave me the confidence to declare my major in mathematics, and from then on they helped tailor my education to my personal interests and goals.”

In an effort to combine her passion for math with her interest in biology, Miranda decided to major in mathematics and minor in statistics and biology. She earned a spot at the 2015 Summer Institute for Training in Biostatistics (SIBS) program at the University of Wisconsin Madison and spent six weeks taking graduate-level courses in biostatistics and completing research on real clinical trial data.

“The SIBS experience helped to solidify my desire to continue my studies in biostatistics and eventually pursue a career within the field.”

After graduation, Miranda will intern with Nuventra Pharma Sciences then start the Ph.D. program in biostatistics at the University of Texas School of Public Health.

Miranda is a member of Kappa Nu Sigma honor society and served as secretary during the 2015-16 academic year. She also was recently inducted into Pi Mu Epsilon honor society.

She says that her accomplishments would not be possible without the support of Meredith faculty and staff.

“I pretty much lived in my professors’ offices during the past three years and often found myself not only discussing assignments but also chatting about life goals. Having the experience of working as a grader in the department also allowed me to grow closer to the faculty, and I am just so grateful for all the opportunities and milestones that they played a pivotal role in helping me achieve.”

Miranda continues a family legacy of Meredith alumnae, following in the footsteps of her great-grandmother and sister while carving her own path at the same time.

“The best part of my Meredith experience has been the journey. I came here unsure of who I was and what I wanted to do with my life. I’m leaving feeling confident not only about my academic future, but also I’m confident about the woman I want to be.”

Learn more about studying mathematics at Meredith.

Find out how Meredith helps students find internships.