East Lansing, Mich. – Emily Steffke, an Honors College senior majoring in neuroscience in the College of Natural Science and English in the College of Arts and Letters, has been named a Marshall Scholar.
The Marshall Commission provides support for up to 50 of the most outstanding undergraduates in the country to study at any university in the United Kingdom. Marshall Scholarships pay tuition and fees, personal travel, book allowances, and a living stipend for up to three years of study.
“I am deeply honored to have been granted this opportunity to leap to the forefront of international health discourse and so excited to pursue a DPhil in Oncology at Oxford. It is inspiring to know that the Marshall Commission not only values my pursuits and achievements during my time at MSU, but also believes in my ability to further blossom into a leader capable of addressing some of the world’s greatest health concerns. I am incredibly grateful to all of my mentors across so many disciplines at MSU, as well as my family and friends, whose belief and support has been unwavering.”
Steffke is from Beal City, Michigan. She is an undergraduate researcher at MSU’s Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering, and is the co-founder and president for Reach Outside, an MSU service organization that plans events for MSU students to volunteer with underprivileged children in the Lansing area to help them experience a variety of outdoor sports. Steffke was named a Goldwater Scholar in 2019.
Steffke plans to study oncology at Oxford University.
“In addition to an outstanding academic record, Emily is a leader in civic engagement and community service and has an absolute passion for cross country and track. She is a shining example of the caliber and potential of all MSU students. This accomplishment also highlights the important contributions that faculty and staff make in helping prepare students achieve their goals,” said Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, dean of the Honors College.
Steffke’s research focuses on studies genetic mechanisms of cancer immunosurveillance escape.
“I am thrilled (but entirely unsurprised) that Ms. Steffke has won a Marshall Scholarship. She is one of the finest Neuroscience students I have ever known and a world-class research mind, and she achieved this success while a varsity athlete, concert pianist, and earning another degree in English. In short, Emily is a true Renaissance woman and represents the very best of Michigan State’s values and achievements,” said A.J. Robison, associate professor in the Department of Physiology.