Editor’s notice: This story is a part of a collection of profiles of notable fall 2023 graduates.

Magen Martinez, who’s graduating with a grasp’s diploma in biomedical diagnostics, can also be a full-time laboratory operations supervisor at Tricore Reference Laboratories in New Mexico.

College of Health Solutions graduate Magen Martinez (proper) along with her daughter Diana. Photo courtesy Magen Martinez
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But earlier than these two issues, she is a single guardian to her daughter Diana, which she says has helped her thrive in pursuit of her larger schooling.

Assistant Teaching Professor Michael Donovan described Martinez as “quite simply the most impressive BMD student that I have had the pleasure of instructing in my time at ASU.”

When speaking about her daughter, Martinez stated, “Her and I are a team, and I would like to showcase that to her and the world whenever possible.”

Diana was Martinez’s most important motivation for pursuing a grasp’s diploma.

With a bachelor’s diploma in utilized arithmetic and chemistry already underneath her belt, Martinez needed a grasp’s diploma to go along with her present job. ASU Online supplied the correct program on the proper time.

Martinez stated that ASU Online contributed to her success as a result of, with such a busy schedule, she didn’t have time to journey to a campus for in-person lessons.

“I’ve had to put a lot of time into it,” stated Martinez. “But it hasn’t prevented me from going to work every day, it hasn’t prevented me from being a mother and raising my daughter and taking care of her, so that’s been really wonderful.”

Below, Martinez elaborates on her time with ASU and her plans publish commencement.

Question: What was your “aha” second whenever you realized you needed to review the sector you majored in?

Answer: I knew I needed a grasp’s diploma as a result of I felt like having a grasp’s is absolutely essential whenever you’re trying on the analysis and improvement facet of issues.

Q: Why did you select ASU?

A: I did actually need a grasp’s diploma, so when I discovered this one on-line, it was kind of excellent as a result of it is what I do, working within the medical laboratory. I focus on assay improvement and citing new testing, and creating lab-developed assessments.

Q: What’s one thing you discovered whereas at ASU — within the classroom or in any other case — that shocked you or modified your perspective?

A: The ethics of drugs and the ethics of data and the way it’s shared and the way it’s used. I do not know that it modified my thoughts, however it opened my thoughts to these conundrums that I do not suppose I’ve ever actually considered earlier than — issues like genetic testing and what are the products and the bads of that. How it might be one thing that might be misused and the way it might be one thing that is life-changing. How can we be stewards of that info and medication to ensure that it’s doing what it must do?

Q: Which professor taught you an important lesson whereas at ASU?

A: It was positively Dr. Donovan. (He taught me) to largely simply … imagine in myself and have faith within the work that I’m doing, that it is acknowledged as being laborious work, and to not cease pushing.

Q: What’s the most effective piece of recommendation you’d give to these nonetheless in class?

A: My largest piece of recommendation is to by no means surrender, and imagine in your self. I didn’t do effectively in undergrad as a result of I wasn’t centered on college the best way I ought to have been. I had a really low GPA. In truth, I solely acquired into the graduate program due to glorious references and real-life expertise. I used to be nonetheless positioned as probationary acceptance for the primary yr. I promised myself that I might do higher this time, and it was actually a tough promise to maintain at occasions. I didn’t surrender attempting, as a result of I knew I may do that if I put my thoughts and coronary heart into it.

Q: What was your favourite spot for energy finding out?

A: On the sofa, underneath a blanket, with “Hamilton” enjoying within the background.

Q: What are your plans after commencement?

A: Work within the laboratory and proceed transferring ahead in that course.

Q: If somebody gave you $40 million to resolve one downside on our planet, what would you deal with?

A: Ways for folks throughout completely different cultures to speak with one another and truly perceive one another. I feel that is the place most of our issues come from. We have completely different languages and completely different cultures. If there was a option to create applications so we may perceive one another higher, I do suppose the world can be a a lot better place

Story by Aidan Hansen, communications assistant, College of Health Solutions