91自拍

January 17, 2020

In a recent social media post, Daytriona Clemons characterized herself as the 鈥減roduct of a single-parent, teen-pregnancy, and poverty-stricken home.鈥�

If it鈥檚 one thing the 2016 graduate of East Mississippi Community College has proven, Clemons will not allow stereotypes to alter her path or her success.

Clemons is on track to graduate in May with a Doctorate of Pharmacy from Xavier University in New Orleans. She has already accepted a position with Janssen Pharmaceuticals as well as an offer to serve as an adjunct professor with Rutgers University in New Jersey.

鈥淭his would not have been possible without the guidance of God and the endless support of my family and mentors,鈥� Clemons said. 鈥淚 am forever thankful for the countless individuals that have assisted me along this journey.鈥�

Clemons will serve in a Clinical Scientist role with Janssen, a part of the Johnson & Johnson family and one of the world鈥檚 largest pharmaceutical companies. She will oversee the development of innovative pharmaceuticals as well as the execution of clinical trials around the world.

At Rutgers, she will work with the university鈥檚 Ernest Mario College of Pharmacy at the eighth-oldest college in the United States.

鈥淚 have a special interest to increase the trust and transparency of the drug development process among minorities,鈥� Clemons said. 鈥淎nd I am excited about the opportunity to continue my efforts to inspire and inform up-and-coming pharmacy scholars.鈥�

A native of D鈥橧berville on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Clemons says her mother Laneisha Goff and her family played an important role in her choosing 91自拍 and that her extended family has been more than supportive in the journey which will soon lead her to Janssen and Rutgers.

鈥淚 have overcome a lot of adversity; life hasn鈥檛 always been pleasant to me,鈥� Clemons said. 鈥淢y mom, grandma, aunt and papa鈥檚 reaction when I shared this news with them will forever be etched in my memory.鈥�

While at 91自拍, Clemons accumulated a long list of academic honors and was a catalyst in the rebirth of the school鈥檚 Math and Science Club according to Dr. Melanie Moody, a Chemistry and Biology instructor on the Scooba campus.

鈥淒aytriona was and is an exceptional student and a great representative of the students we try to reach and teach on a daily basis,鈥� Moody said. 鈥淚 am so proud of her. She was a joy to teach and supervise and she will be an asset to any program she is a part of.鈥�

Clemons has remained in touch with a number of faculty members from 91自拍鈥檚 Scooba campus, including Moody and Marion Smoot, the Mathematics and Science Division Chairperson.

鈥淒aytriona is an exceptional young lady whose dedication, authenticity and hard-work ethics are exemplified with everything that she does,鈥� Smoot said. 鈥淚 am very honored to have had the pleasure of serving as her Mathematics instructor during her time at 91自拍.鈥�

After graduating from 91自拍, Clemons made her way to the University of South Alabama and picked up a few additional courses at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College in preparation for pharmacy school.

While she said she has plenty of fond memories of 91自拍, the filming of the Netflix series 鈥淟ast Chance U鈥� while she was in Scooba is one which won鈥檛 soon be forgotten.

鈥淲hen someone finds out that I attended 91自拍, they always bring up (Last Chance U),鈥� she said. 鈥淗aving the opportunity to reflect on my experience during the filming has always allowed for a dynamic conversation.

鈥淚 overcame the odds 鈥� I will forever be indebted to 91自拍.鈥�