What’s next for the Class of 2026: Molly Dormer

“What’s next for the Class of 2026” is a series that features Lafayette grads—where they’re headed, and the mentors, resources, and experiences that inspired their future path. Stay tuned for more stories throughout April and May.

(Photo | JaQuan Alston)

By: Kelly Huth

Major/minor:

Biology

Destination/future plans:

After graduation, Molly Dormer ’26 will work as a medical assistant at Family Medicine North in Massachusetts for one year before continuing her studies at medical school to become a physician.

Involvement on campus:

At Lafayette, Dormer found groups and experiences that complemented what she was learning in classes. She served as a peer mentor for biology (2024-26), joined the Pre-Health Professions Society (2025-26), and conducted research in the Biology Department (spring 2023-spring 2026) through the lab of Robert Kurt, Gideon R. Kreider Jr. and Alice L. Kreider Professor of Biology.

She also joined Alpha Gamma Delta (2023-26), Running Club (2022-26), and Hillel Society (2022-26). Dormer worked as an employer relations intern at Gateway Career Center (2023-26), and tutored elementary-age students through Landis Center for Community Engagement’s America Reads program (spring 2025-spring 2026). 

The experiences that mattered most:

Getting the opportunity to do research in Prof. Kurt’s lab is one of the highlights of Dormer’s time at Lafayette. That research, which also became the focus of her honors thesis, focuses on early detection and tumor growth of breast cancer—specifically cell signaling and how the microenvironment might impact or inhibit tumor growth.

“I’ve learned so many technical skills and personal skills—when things inevitably go wrong, and how you move forward with the experiment,” Dormer says. “It’s also really exciting to be involved in such a fun research project and getting to own that.”

Her time with America Reads also left a lasting impression. Twice a week she spent time tutoring first and third graders at March Elementary School, some of whom she’s taught since they were in kindergarten.

“I love getting to work with the students through America Reads,” she says. “It’s such a cool challenge to tailor my tutoring approach to each kid. They’re so dynamic, and it’s really fun to build connections and help them develop as students.”

Dormer also participated in Literacy Day, an annual event America Reads organizes for Easton area students that she calls “one of the highlights of my semester.” Lafayette volunteers organize the day with activities featuring Lafayette student groups, guest readers, and free books students in grades 3-5 can take home.

Why Lafayette?

For Dormer, the community at Lafayette meant everything.

“In every space you’re in, there’s so much support and you really feel that community at Lafayette,” Dormer says. “Even when classes get hard or research doesn’t go well, I feel like you always have your people to fall back on, which makes difficult things easier. 

“That community feel is now something I’m looking for in my future pursuits for school and career.”

How Lafayette shaped your future:

The opportunities she had at Lafayette offered real-world experience and set her confidently on her path forward.

Through Gateway’s externship program, she was able to shadow a cardiothoracic surgeon in Colorado and be in the operating room while he was performing a major procedure. “That opened my eyes to different parts of medicine,” she notes.

Gateway also connected her to St. Luke’s Pre-Med Observer Program (2024-25) where she shadowed five specialties to learn more about health care career options.

As a 2025 Bergh Family Fellows Scholar, she had the support to work in an orthopedic office in Massachusetts where she joined a clinical team to assist with patient care.

“That experience solidified my decision to go into medicine,” Dormer says of the Bergh Family Fellows. “It was really exciting, and I learned what it means to take care of someone else’s health.

“I’ve been so incredibly lucky to have these experiences, and I’ve had a lot of support in getting me there.”

The people who inspired you along the way:

Dormer is grateful to the Health Professions Program team—Simona Glaus, director of Health Professions Program; Nancy Waters, faculty adviser of Health Professions Program and associate professor of biology; and Sue Herschlag, administrative coordinator of Health Professions Program and Institutional Review Board. 

“They’ve been so incredibly helpful, and made the task of applying to medical school less daunting,” Dormer says. “They’re always there to answer questions and offer help and resources to support us through that process, which makes it less scary.”

Dormer notes that Prof. Kurt in the Biology Department served as her research adviser and mentor, and has helped her to hone her skills. 

“He’s created a space where my ideas are really valued,” Dormer says. “He’s such a great person to talk to about my interests in biology, and he’s been super helpful.”

Her team at Gateway Career Services also left an indelible mark on her time at Lafayette. Melissa Schultz, director, strategic projects and Gateway career counselor, and Sue Domagalski, assistant director, employer relations/recruiting operations, have always been a source of support ready to look over materials or help her prep for interviews.

“Melissa has helped me maximize the things I’ve done when I apply to jobs and internships,” she says. “She answers my often-panicked emails to help me put my best foot forward. 

“Sue, my boss at Gateway, has given me so much space to develop so many different technical skills to present myself professionally. She’s always someone I can talk to, and she has always sent me opportunities she thinks I’d be interested in.”

Dormer says she’s very sad to leave in the spring and working at Gateway is one of the experiences she’ll miss the most.

Advice for future Leopards:

“It’s so exciting but so weird to be graduating,” Dormer says. “There are so many things to look back on and so many things I’ll remember.”

Two things that helped her along her journey and the advice she’d offer to incoming Leopards would be to ask questions and try everything.

“Ask questions because our professors here are so excited to answer questions, and it’s a really positive thing. Everyone here is so excited to talk about the things they’re involved in,” Dormer says. 

“Try everything because it never hurts to try something new and you can learn a lot.”