Master of Science in Physiology By Amy Oakley Director, MS Program and Lecturer, Molecular & Integrative Physiology
I
am honored to serve as the new Director of the MS Program in Physiology, now in its ninth year. We are exceedingly proud of our present cohort and the ongoing success
of our former students. Our team’s goal is to maintain and continue to improve the experience of our cohort both inside and outside the classroom. With our small class size (31 students matriculated Fall 2019), we are able to preserve the collegial and familial feel that I experienced as a PhD student in
(ABRCMS), where she mentors and advises undergraduate
the department. This year’s cohort bonded very early and has
and graduate underrepresented scientists, and at the 2019
organized social events such as a crochet tutorial, intramural
meeting, co-led a workshop on Science Communication.
sports, a yoga session led by an alumna registered yoga instructor, a trip to Cedar Point, coordinating onesie Halloween
In her role as Associate Director of the MS Program in Physi-
costumes, “Friendsgiving,” a Super Bowl viewing party, and
ology, she is able to fully explore and develop those interests
a recent ski trip up north. Lest you think they are all play
in teaching and mentoring through working with the talented
and no work, our students impress us with their hard work
students who make up the MS program cohorts. Isola serves
ethic and service to community. Our Coordinator of Advising,
as co-Course Director for PHYSIOL 592: Integrated Neurosci-
Peggy Zitek, continues to work on our student’s personal and
ence, PHYSIOL 610: Translational and Pathophysiology, and
professional writing development, health professions school
PHYSIOL 605: Professional Development Seminar. Along with
application content, and mock interviews. We are excited to
the rest of the program staff, she helps to advise the MS
welcome to the team the new Program Administrator, Folaké
students through development of their end-of-year capstone
Graves, and the new Associate Director, Dr. Isola Brown, who
papers and presentations, and in deciding their next steps
both hit the ground running, bringing fresh perspectives and
after completion of the program.
contributions to the M.S. Program team. Outside of work, Isola enjoys traveling (to warmer places), Isola Brown, Ph.D. joined the MS Program in Physiology as
testing her patience with jigsaw puzzles, and running out-
Associate Program Director in October 2019. Isola earned
doors (when we finally get summer in Michigan). Isola has
her Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology at Michigan State
been warmly welcomed by the rest of the MS Program staff,
University in 2017, where she worked in the lab of Dr. Brian
and the wider department, and has thoroughly enjoyed her
Gulbransen. Isola’s graduate work focused on the role of en-
first few months as a Wolverine.
teric glial cells in regulating inflammation, oxidative stress, and motility, within the gastrointestinal tract. She then com-
Folaké Graves holds an MA in Education degree from the Uni-
pleted a Ford Foundation-funded Postdoctoral Fellowship with
versity of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Her professional career
Dr. Brant Isakson at the University of Virginia, studying the
has always involved working with diverse student populations
role of vascular endothelial cells in the pathology of viral in-
at two- and four-year institutes. She enjoys being immersed
fections, before returning to Michigan to join the MS Program
in the educational and cultural hub at the University of Mich-
and MIP.
igan, where she has 13 years of student advising experience in LSA. In her new role in the Department of Physiology as
Throughout her academic and professional career, Isola has
of May 2019, Folaké’s responsibilities include administrative
always had a passion for, and been drawn towards, student
functions, student support, and curricular coordination. She
teaching, outreach, and mentoring. As a graduate student
resides in Ann Arbor with her husband, who received his Ph.D.
and postdoc, she developed outreach activities for young
at the University of Michigan’s Cellular & Molecular Biology
scientists through the MSU Chapter of the Graduate Wom-
Department (PIBS alum), and two teen daughters. In her
en in Science, and the American Physiological Society, and
spare time, Folaké enjoys spending time with her family and
was a guest lecturer for multiple undergraduates and grad-
loves to travel. She looks forward to building relationships
uate pharmacology and physiology courses. One of her fa-
with staff and faculty within the Physiology department in or-
vorite activities outside of the classroom is attending the An-
der to provide students with the best service and educational
nual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students
experience during their time at the University.
Physiology Matters
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