Renaissance Woman

Biology major Ruth Zekariase, ’22, knows what’s next on her impressive list of accomplishments—pursing a medical doctorate program. “My dream job would be to open my own neighborhood clinic wherever I settle down and become a local primary care provider, building solid relationships with families and people in my community.”

Growing up in nearby Burien, Wash., Zekariase attended John F. Kennedy Catholic High School, where she was a student ambassador and entered Seattle University as a recipient of the prestigious Sullivan Scholar Leadership Award.

“The Sullivan community has been the backbone of my Seattle U experience,” she says. “The learning and growing that has been fostered by the scholarship community provided me wisdom and insight to help best prepare me for life ahead.” She met some of her closest friends through the program, “and it is those mentors and peers who have shaped me into the peer I am today.”

Now a teaching assistant for an organic chemistry lab in the Jim and Janet Sinegal Center for Science and Innovation, Zekariase shares that the new building is a huge upgrade for her learning style. “Getting to be hands-on is the most important part of science for me. … It is fascinating to see how doing all my favorite experiments again with the new equipment completely elevates the experience.”

When asked how the university has shaped her both personally and professionally, Zekariase says it’s the faculty who continue to amaze her with their attentiveness and support.

“The relationships I have developed not only enrich my learning, but also boost my confidence as a STEM student, giving me the … space to make mistakes and be guided toward the right answer. It is the grace and collaboration that have shaped me into a more curious and confident student.”

In 2021, she participated in SU’s first Racial Equity Summit during an Art in Action segment, visually capturing the virtual experience from her room by drawing in front of a live audience of nearly 1,000 people.

“It was so interesting participating in the Racial Equity Summit. The task was completely out of my comfort zone, just because I have minimal experience creating in front of others, much less a whole audience,” says Zekariase. “It was an honor to be one part of a whole experience that enriched our SU community with the wisdom and vulnerability of educators, academics and leaders willing to share their experiences as People of Color.”

Read this story in its entirety in the Winter/Spring 2022 edition of Seattle University Magazine, out March 15.