As a UM-Dearborn top scholar in bioengineering and an advocate for mental health, Cameron is well on his way to being a well-rounded professional in his field.

Advocating for mental health

“With UM-Dearborn athletics forced to postpone athletic competition in 2021, I saw mental health declining across my community. I decided to pledge to run 1 mile for every $10 donated to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), where I raised over $600. After running 60 miles in 7 days, I decided to further this mission for localized mental health advocacy by providing mentorship, free course-specific tutoring, and support for dozens of student-athletes and other members of the UM-Dearborn community.”

The importance of a support system

“As a student-athlete, experiencing generous support from teammates and coaches during my time at UM-Dearborn left the biggest mark on my life. After experiencing unfortunate family loss and personal struggles, the lacrosse team and coaching staff provided uplifting support that would be near impossible to find elsewhere. The team started weekly meetings checking in on the wellness status of each player, and eventually highlighted one player every week who went above and beyond in being the ‘ultimate teammate.’ Being a good teammate is more important than individual accomplishments, and this experience impacted me heavily.”

The impact of a phrase

“I will be attending graduate school at Cornell in the fall, where I will start my Master in Biomedical Engineering. Although Dearborn's rigorous coursework has equipped me to become admitted and attend an Ivy League University, perhaps the greatest tools are the advice and inspiration from the school's faculty. 

“When I was a freshman in 2018, Chancellor Domenico Grasso spoke the phrase with attribution to JFK, that ‘At Dearborn, we will achieve excellence not because it is easy, but because it hard.’ This was the first time that Chancellor Grasso had spoken to students in his new role, and perhaps it was this speech that internalized the greatest message in me. The resolve of a diverse student body, coupled with strong faculty leadership that has continuously provided opportunities for curious students, has allowed me to expand the horizon of my talents in both bioengineering and professionally.”