Hometown: Washington, Illinois

Major: Chemistry

Future Plans: Earn a doctorate in chemical engineering

Natalie Kerr got a chance to present her research in Berlin, Germany after being named the Falling Walls Lab Illinois Young Innovator of the Year. On campus, she is president of The Research Society and plays violin as a Camerata Music Scholar. Recently, she was named the NPR Illinois/UIS Music Musician of the Year and won the UIS Music Solo competition. Kerr says she chose UIS because of the small student-faculty ratio, generous scholarships and the Capital Scholars Honors Program. Following graduation from UIS, she plans to earn her doctorate in chemical engineering with a specific interest in water quality, toxicology and public health.

Leadership is lived at UIS. Every day.