Nisttha “Khushi” Ray

For many first-generation college students, attending college is about opening doors to opportunities their families never had. For Nisttha “Khushi” Ray, Notre Dame of Maryland University became a place where she discovered her potential as a leader, researcher, and future physician while forging a path for herself and inspiring others along the way.

Graduating Summa Cum Laude in May 2026 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology on the pre-medical track and a minor in Chemistry, Khushi leaves NDMU with a legacy of leadership, scholarship, and service. Her journey reflects not only academic achievement but also the resilience, determination, and ambition that define many first-generation students.

“As a first-generation college student, my journey at Notre Dame was more than earning a degree,” Khushi reflects. “It was about discovering my potential as a leader, researcher, and future physician.”

Throughout her time at NDMU, Khushi became one of the university’s most involved student leaders. She served as both Junior and Senior Class President in the Student Government Association, a Resident Advisor in Meletia Hall, and a Student Engagement Coordinator. She also held leadership roles as a PACT Educator, Board of Trustees Institutional Advancement Committee Representative, Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society Publicity Chair, International Student Organization Public Relations Officer, student researcher, NDMU 100 TA, and Trailblazer Scholar.

Through these experiences, she advocated for students, organized campus traditions and events, fostered community engagement, and helped strengthen relationships across the university. Her commitment to service and leadership made a lasting impact on the NDMU community.

Research was another cornerstone of Khushi’s undergraduate experience. Driven by her passion for science and medicine, she immersed herself in multiple research projects that expanded her understanding of biological systems and strengthened her preparation for a future in healthcare.

In 2023, Khushi and her research partner received the Nancy Kreiter Student Research Day Award in Biological Sciences for their work investigating Drosophila melanogaster genes related to Hirschsprung disease through RNA-sequencing analysis. In 2025, she earned the event’s Grand Prize for Best Overall Research Poster Presentation for her cellular and molecular biology research examining Mps1 overexpression, chromosome organization, and cell-death pathways, a project she also helped design.

Her research interests extended beyond a single discipline. She investigated the antimicrobial properties of fermented garlic honey, conducted sentiment analysis of biology courses, and utilized Galaxy bioinformatics tools to examine differences in the infant gut microbiome associated with breastfeeding and formula feeding. These experiences culminated in one of her most notable achievements: co-authoring Unearthing Soil Biodiversity Through Collaborative Genomic Research and Education, a publication in Nature Genetics.

Khushi’s academic accomplishments earned her membership in several prestigious honor societies, including Gamma Epsilon Sigma National Chemistry Honor Society, Delta Epsilon Sigma National Honor Society, and Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society. As Publicity Chair for TriBeta, she helped establish the university chapter’s first partnership with Johns Hopkins University’s chapter, creating opportunities for collaboration and networking among aspiring scientists.

Her influence reached beyond the classroom and laboratory. Khushi was selected to represent student life and leadership at NDMU on Amazon Prime’s The College Tour, sharing her experiences with prospective students and families around the world. Through this platform, she highlighted the supportive community, opportunities for involvement, and transformative experiences that helped shape her college journey.

Today, Khushi is continuing her path toward becoming a pediatrician. She currently works as a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant at Happy Family Care & Clinic while gaining additional clinical experience through pediatric physician shadowing at Carroll Hospital’s Family Birthplace. These opportunities are helping her build the clinical foundation necessary for a career dedicated to caring for children and families.

Looking back on her time at NDMU, Ray credits her success to the support of mentors, professors, friends, and family who encouraged her along the way.

“Being a first-generation student has taught me perseverance, leadership, and the importance of serving others,” she says. “I am proud of everything I accomplished at Notre Dame and grateful to everyone who supported me throughout this journey.”

As she prepares for the next chapter, Nisttha “Khushu” Ray hopes her story will encourage other first-generation students to pursue their ambitions with confidence. Her experiences demonstrate that with dedication, curiosity, and commitment to service, students can transform challenges into opportunities and aspirations into reality.

For the NDMU community, Khushi’s story is a testament to the power of first-generation student success and the extraordinary impact one student can have through leadership, scholarship, and service.