Rachel Okeleye ’24

Rachel Okeleye chose the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR) for its tight‑knit learning environment and access to Mayo Clinic. As someone who values close relationships, Rachel appreciated the small classes, which allowed her to thrive and  UMR’s close proximity to Mayo Clinic helped her gain high‑quality experiences, resources and connections as a pre‑med student.

Her Capstone focused on representation in medicine, a topic she explored through courses on black history and media. “There are not many doctors who look like me,” Okeleye said. “Representation is key in health care.”

Rachel credits Dr. Jennifer Wacek and Dr. Michelle Nelson with shaping her academic confidence. “Dr. Wacek was so knowledgeable and kind and I honestly would not have passed Organic Chemistry without Dr. Nelson,” Rachel said.

Since graduating in 2024, Okeleye completed a master’s in biomedical sciences at the University of Minnesota Duluth and now works as a nursing station technician at M Health Fairview’s Masonic Children’s Hospital. “I’ve developed a new passion for working with kids,” Rachel shared. She is currently studying for the MCAT and plans to apply to medical school during this upcoming cycle.

Learn more about the Pre-Med and Patient Care area of focus at UMR.