Ahmani Browne ’23 is on his way to completing a full circle—connected by beach and water—back to his Caribbean home country Antigua and Barbuda, with a goal of contributing to university sciences there.

On track to completing his doctoral studies in coastal ecology at Louisiana State University in 2028, he credits Mitchell College with feeding his curiosity about science and nurturing his confidence to seek out opportunities to support his interests.

Drawn to New London by Beach and Water

“I went to Mitchell, in part, because of the proximity to the beach. Being around the water was familiar to me. I liked science and the environment, so I decided to study marine & environmental science. Mitchell gave me a strong foundation and understanding of the scientific process, plus experiences to apply my knowledge.”

In addition to serving as a research assistant on campus for two semesters, Ahmani was encouraged by former professor Dr. Christine Ramsay to apply for a competitive summer research program, funded by the National Science Foundation. (Read more about his experience here.)

“At first I was very scared to apply for the program. I didn’t know anything about independent research and the whole thing seemed very intimidating. Dr. Ramsay said the experience could help me figure out what type of work I could do after I graduated. That internship was a turning point for me in deciding that I wanted to pursue graduate studies.”

In addition to his summer research, Ahmani also had the opportunity to present scientific findings at an academic conference in Texas, “a first taste of the academic realm,” he said.

Mentored to Develop Teaching Style

As a doctoral student, Ahmani also works as a teaching assistant with 50 students.

“Being a teaching assistant grew on me. I like the aspect of mentoring and seeing someone overcome a challenge. I’m developing my own teaching style but do draw on what I learned from my Mitchell professors, including Dr. Ramsay, Dr. Lindsay Rush, and Dr. Dan Kresge,” he said.

Learned to Balance Athletics, Academics, and More

Ahmani said his many experiences on the Mitchell campus prepared him well for his current role of student and teacher.

“My public speaking class at Mitchell got me out of my shell. I was a shy person, and the class helped me understand how to speak to other people. Working in the library gave me the opportunity to work one-on-one with patrons and help them with problems, such as equipment issues. As a member of the men’s basketball team, I had to figure out how to balance practice, games, classes, homework, my campus job, and a research assistantship. Figuring out time management and keeping everything on schedule was a challenge that I overcame.”

He added that a highlight of his time at Mitchell was winning two conference championships, with trips to the NCAA tournament, for the men’s basketball team.

Ahmani credits Mitchell with helping him find a way to pursue fully his two passions, science and basketball, strengthening rather than competing against each other.

“I loved the tight-knit community at Mitchell, the friendly people, and the ability to connect so easily with professors. Your advisor walks you through everything, and you can go talk about anything. That personal interaction is so important to help prepare you for the next step in your future.”

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Ahmani Browne