USU Student Senator, Undergrad Researcher, Aspiring Physician Assistant Embraces New College Home

For Utah State University scholar Breanna Cahoon, being part of the recently formed College of Arts and Sciences (ArtSci) feels like a natural progression. The undergraduate, who was elected 2025-26 Science Senator, is pursuing a major in cellular and molecular biology, with a minor in sociology — both programs found in ArtSci.

“I’ve already completed classes and gotten to know faculty, staff and students in the former colleges, so it feels like everything is coming together smoothly,” Cahoon says. “ArtSci’s opening Plaza Palooza was so much fun with all the enthusiastic student involvement.”

The student senator looks forward to two upcoming ArtSci Student Council-led activities: The first of which is the ArtSci Dean’s Forum from 8-10 a.m. Oct. 20 in the Carolyn Tanner Irish Pavilion, Room 201 of the Mehdi Heravi Global Teaching and Learning Center, where students can enjoy breakfast and meet with Dean Joseph Ward. The second is the “You Belong in STEM” gathering from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 29, outdoors on the Engineering Quad. Jointly hosted with the Engineering Student Council, the gathering will offer booths and activities aimed at student involvement and wellness.

Cahoon leapt into fall classes following a busy summer commuting back and forth from Logan, through Sardine Canyon, to USU Brigham City.

“I was a teaching assistant for the human anatomy and dissection class in Brigham City,” she says. “It was a great experience. Learning about anatomy with an actual human body is enlightening and a great privilege. And I actually enjoyed the commute — the canyon is so beautiful. Additionally, teaching at the Brigham City campus gave me an insight into the positive impacts of USU’s Statewide Campuses.”

Teaching the class, Cahoon says, has not only improved her knowledge of the subject matter, but also introduced her to a welcoming network of fellow teaching assistants.

“It’s such a supportive atmosphere, which has really benefitted by academic experience,” she says. “I’m also grateful to biology faculty members Kevin Young and Andy Anderson, who have been great teachers and mentors.”

The aspiring physician assistant developed a keen interest in the medical field as a student at Skyview High School in Nampa, Idaho, from which she graduated in 2022.

“I took an emergency medical technician course as a high school student,” Cahoon says. “Our instructor was an army veteran who’d served as medic in Iraq. He shared a lot of stories of his wartime emergency medical experiences and the emotional aspects of being a first responder. It was fascinating and inspiring.”

As a high school student, Cahoon participated in ambulance ride-alongs and logged firsthand experiences in emergency response.

“I’d long been interested in biology and, combined with my EMT experiences, I decided becoming a physician assistant would be a good fit for me,” she says.

Cahoon looked into USU as a college destination because of its reputation for undergraduate research but fell in love with the campus “because of its beauty and friendly, welcoming atmosphere.”

She recently became a research assistant in the lab of Zhongde Wang, professor in USU’s Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences.

“Dr. Wang uses genome engineering techniques, including CRISPR/Cas9, and assisted reproduction technologies to create animal models of human diseases,” Cahoon says. “His aims include contributing tools to help development of therapeutics for such diseases as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and viral infections.”

She says getting involved in the lab’s research has been “a huge learning curve,” but she’s enjoying the new challenges.

“I’m learning so many new things and getting the opportunity to apply what I’ve learned in the classroom to real-world scientific problems,” Cahoon says. “It’s absolutely fascinating.”

Among the classes she says have prepared well to undertake research were the biochemistry series taught by chemistry and biochemistry faculty members Joanie Hevel and Nick Dickinson.

“Those classes were difficult but among the most rewarding I’ve taken at Utah State,” Cahoon says. “I feel as though they helped me reach the next level.”

In addition to a demanding campus schedule, Cahoon, a certified nursing assistant who has worked in hospice, memory care and skilled nursing facilities, supervises a staff of five for a private caregiving firm.

The busy student served on the Science Student Council during the 2024-25 academic year, during which former student leaders Evan Anderson and Bella DeJesus encouraged Cahoon to run for senator.

“They gave me a pep in my step and helped me believe in myself,” Cahoon says.

She joins senators Lily Takemoto and Ryley Cottrell, of the former Caine College of the Arts and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, respectively; as the student leadership trio for ArtSci.

“We’re all in this together, building a new sense of community,” Cahoon says. “We’re creating new traditions, celebrating what makes ArtSci special and fostering a sense of belonging for everyone. I’m excited to continue our peer mentorship program, which provides such important benefits to students — especially new students. I’m a first-generation college student myself, so I know the value of both peer and faculty mentors.”

And what does Cahoon enjoy during her rare moments of free time?

“I have to make a plug for the USU Libraries’ Student Book Club,” she says. “I love to read and it’s a great way for Aggies to come together from all over campus. We’ve had insightful discussions and I’ve met so many interesting people.”