Kate McClain was already working at the Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania, when she decided she wanted to deepen her knowledge of the field she was working in. She chose to enroll as a Penn State World Campus student, all while balancing her career and other life responsibilities.
McClain earned a bachelor’s degree in biobehavioral health in 2023. Her academic experience while at World Campus helped her better understand her role in research and supported her professional growth.
Today, McClain is a research technologist with a pediatric oncology lab at the Penn State College of Medicine, contributing to research focused on improving outcomes for children with cancer.
Read more about Kate McClain in the alumni spotlight below.
Why did you choose to pursue your degree through Penn State World Campus?
I chose Penn State World Campus because it allowed me to continue working full-time while earning a degree that advanced my knowledge in research.
The online aspect allowed me to be able to juggle my rigorous course work, career, and family all at once. The biobehavorial health major seemed to be the best fit for my interests in science, health, and research.
How did your bachelor’s degree prepare you for your current career?
Penn State helped me grow both personally and professionally. My courses helped me learn the requisite skills that are important in today’s research field. Not only were my science courses and labs helpful, but the emphasis on writing and presentations has been very beneficial to my career now.
From scientific writing to higher-level statistics, epidemiology, pharmacology, and a broader focus on population health, this major has given me the tools to view research topics in a more holistic fashion.
When it comes to how it helped me grow on a personal level, the opportunity to interact with people from different ages, cultures, and perspectives strengthened my understanding of others and deepened my appreciation for the world around me.
What is your current position as a research technologist like?
I work in Dr. Giselle Saulnier Sholler’s Pediatric Oncology Translational Research Laboratory at the Penn State College of Medicine. The research lab is supported by Four Diamonds, a Penn State–based philanthropy that supports children and families battling pediatric cancer by funding care and research. The money raised by THON™ dancers, families, friends, and everyone involved in this incredible program is put to meaningful use by my team and the other pediatric oncology research labs at the College of Medicine. This funding allows us to purchase cutting-edge equipment that helps us save lives and improve outcomes for children every single day.
I never imagined I would one day be on this side of THON, but I am truly honored and grateful to be doing this work — it has brought my Penn State experience full circle. What I once knew as a student-run philanthropy is now directly connected to the work I do every day, and it reinforces how powerful the Penn State community can be in creating real change for children and families.
What does being a Penn State alumna mean to you?
I love Penn State! To be a part of this global alumni network is both an achievement and an exciting opportunity. My son graduated from high school in 2023, the same year as I graduated from Penn State, which made the moment even more meaningful. Now that I work in Dr. Sholler’s Research Laboratory, I’m proud to represent Penn State through a role that directly helps and impacts children and families facing the hardships of cancer. It is an honor to be working alongside Dr. Sholler, as well as my amazing lab mates and colleagues. It is a dream come true to be able to work hard every day to improve the lives and futures of pediatric cancer patients across the world.
This Q&A spotlight is part of “40k alumni: 40 stories celebrating 40,000 graduates,” a series marking the milestone of more than 40,000 Penn Staters earning their degrees online through Penn State World Campus.