11/11/11
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Jenelle Krishnamoorthy '94 |
As a teenager, Randolph-Macon College alumna
Jenelle Krishnamoorthy ’94 was curious about how environmental and physiological factors affect emotions, behavior and perception. At R-MC that interest blossomed as her studies helped unravel the mysteries of the human brain.
Krishnamoorthy, who grew up in Lynchburg, Virginia, credits her R-MC education for contributing to a multi-faceted career. “My liberal arts background gave me the foundation to take my education in many different directions,” she says. “Professors Alva Hughes, Carol Hughes and Kelly Lambert helped get me where I am now.”
Alva Hughes, says Krishnamoorthy, “believed in me, and it was due to her encouragement that I persevered and worked toward becoming a clinical psychologist.”
To read more Alumni Success stories, click here.Carol Hughes helped Krishnamoorthy get placed in her senior-year practicum at the Medical School of Virginia. “That placement led to my first full-time job, a master’s program and my interest in pediatric obesity,” she says.
Krishnamoorthy’s interest in research was buoyed by the encouragement of Kelly Lambert. “She taught me research methodology and how to develop the scientific evidence to prove or disprove a hypothesis,” she says. “Those lessons followed me through my doctoral training and they are with me today.”
After graduating from R-MC with a B.S. in
psychology, Krishnamoorthy earned her M.A. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and her Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University. She then completed residency and a post-doctoral fellowship at Brown Medical School. In 2003, she was accepted by the American Association of the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Congressional Fellowship Program to work with Congress. “The goal of the program is to have Ph.D.s and M.D.s use science to educate policy makers,” she explains. “It was a fantastic experience, and following a year of working on legislation such as the child nutrition bill, I wanted to learn more about international health policy.”
In 2004, she was accepted by AAAS for their Diplomacy Fellowship and worked at the U.S. State Department as the Environmental, Science, Technology and Health Advisor on the India Desk. “During that time, President Bush traveled to India and Prime Minister Singh traveled to the United States,” says Krishnamoorthy. “I had the opportunity to work on advancing our space collaboration and HIV/AIDS policy, among other initiatives.”
The work was fulfilling, but Krishnamoorthy found that she missed working at the Senate. “I was fortunate to be asked in 2005 to come back to the Senate,” she says. “As the health policy director for Chairman Harkin’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, I can put my scientific background to use in developing health policy.”
Krishnamoorthy met some of her most treasured friends at R-MC. “We grew up together, studied all night, made biology and psychology flashcards, and dealt with first dates and break-ups,” she says. “We don’t see each other very often, but when we do, we pick right back up from where we left off.”
She and her husband, Jimmy Mathews ’96, visit R-MC several times a year. “We are fortunate to live close by,” she says, “and Jimmy serves on the Society of Alumni, so I have a direct source on what is happening. And the
R-MC Magazine is a great way to find out what is happening at the college and with alumni.”
Krishnamoorthy speaks from experience as she offers incoming freshmen advice. “These will be some of the best times in your life. Get to know your professors; they really do care about your success. Now and then, try something different. Work hard—and enjoy the adventure.”
Originally posted on 10/4/11