Published on June 12, 2025 by Gunnar Sadowey  
Jenna Grace Clark and McKayla Bean
Jenna Grace Clark and McKayla Bean

Samford University’s Howard College of Arts and Sciences will welcome two new transfer students into its STEM Scholars Program this fall: Jenna Grace Clark and McKayla Bean. Both students bring strong academic backgrounds, unique interests and a passion for learning and leadership.

Clark will join Samford from Bevill State Community College. She will major in biology, with plans to explore connections between nutrition, health and wellness through her coursework. “What we consume affects our bodies in numerous ways,” Clark said. “I’m excited to learn more about these subjects and how they intersect.”

In addition to her academic pursuits, Clark is passionate about growing in her faith, staying active, attending sporting events and spending time with friends and family.

Bean comes to campus from Gadsden State Community College, where supportive faculty and mentors played a key role in her academic journey. She credits Barbara Dorsett, DMD, her general chemistry instructor and advisor, for providing guidance and encouragement as she prepared to transition to Samford.

Bean will major in biochemistry and is especially interested in using her studies to better understand the causes and potential cures for disease. Beyond the classroom, she enjoys playing basketball, working out, traveling and spending time outdoors.

The STEM Scholars Program provides comprehensive support to academically talented students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Through faculty mentoring, cohort-based support and opportunities for hands-on research, the program helps students grow as scholars and leaders in their fields and communities.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jenna and McKayla to the STEM Scholars Program,” said Betsy Dobbins, professor of biological and environmental sciences and program director. “Both students embody the curiosity, resilience and drive we seek to cultivate in the program. We look forward to seeing the impact they will make at Samford and beyond.”

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Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.