Rayna Cunningham | Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology with an African American Studies Certificate
Rayna Cunningham has spent her time at UW-Madison as both a scholar and an artist. In her last semester as an undergraduate student, Cunningham worked alongside Dr. Anthony Black to create a mixed media exhibition on Afro-surrealism and the tradition of feminine creation in a Directed Studies project. Cunningham notes that her first African American Studies course was Dr. Thulani Davis’ 271: Black Masculinities; those initial discussions on Blackness from a breadth of perspectives throughout time and space sparked her interest in the certificate program. As a freshman, she knew she wanted to study Biology but felt a new momentum and excitement when those classes began to focus on the brain. Cunningham shares that her favorite spots to study on campus have been the Wisconsin Historical Society and the Humanities Building, noting: “You can get lost in there. I like how Brutalist it is…how it contains you and forces you to work.” When asked where she hopes to be in fifteen years, she says: “I want to serve patients, especially patients of color.” Rayna is hoping to specialize in dermatology to improve education on melanated skin and grow awareness around signs of skin disease. After graduation, Rayna plans to continue her work at the Madison Children’s Museum as their Outreach Coordinator while studying for the MCAT. She hopes to find a fellowship in medicine and research before applying to medical schools across the country.