Klaudia Maria Szych is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Biology with a focus on exercise physiology at Eastern New Mexico University. She decided on this field of study due to her desire to help people become healthier and perform better at sports.

"As a very active person I find the human body very fascinating, I strive to learn about the anatomy and the physiology of the human body during exercise," she said.

Her career goal is to become a kinesiologist, nutritionist and certified personal trainer. "I want to promote healthy lifestyle and exercise as a preventive method and treatment of various medical conditions," she explained.

Klaudia was born and raised in Szczecin, Poland, with an athletic family; her parents run, and her two brothers play soccer. Her father, a certified track coach and sports manager with a master's degree in physical education, owns RAZ Event, a company that specializes in organizing sports events. Her mother is a clothing technician and works as a plant manager at Trykot Arne Carlsson, a company specializing in sewing and embroidery.

The Greyhound does not get to visit Poland often, but her family tries to meet up yearly in New York since her father is one of the partners of the NYC Marathon. "Last November, both my parents ran the NYC Marathon. My older brother and I cheered them on," she shared.

A workout-enthusiast who loves running and weightlifting, Klaudia won the 2015 800m run and was a record-breaker with a time of 2:09.57. She was also one of the female athletes to attain the All-Lone Star Conference status. "Being a student-athlete shaped me into a person I am today. And even though I am out of eligibility and cannot compete for ENMU, it is still a big part of my life and always will be," she said.  

Klaudia, who earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology with an emphasis in Pre-Medicine in 2016 from ENMU, chose to attend the University because it offered the highest athletic scholarship. One of her favorite parts about being a Greyhound is the opportunity to network with ENMU alumni.

She likes the small class sizes at ENMU because they allow for a more personalized experience with the professors. "Since there are not that many students in a class, professors at ENMU take time to get to know you, and they really show interest in your professional future" she shared.

Her favorite class was "Kinesiology," because the content was "interesting and I enjoyed learning more about the anatomy and movement of the human body." She added that professors Dr. Kenwyn Cradock and Dr. Matthew Barlow have been of great help in her academic work at Eastern.

Klaudia currently works as a research assistant in the ENMU Department of Biology, where she does full-time research at the Exercise Physiology Laboratory under the supervision of Dr. Barlow. Her responsibilities include the collection and analysis of data in her supervisor's research.

She advises students interested in pursuing a degree in biology to "be ready for a challenging work. You will have to make some sacrifices. If you do not find joy in the process of getting there, you will not be happy when you get there."

Klaudia loves nature and outdoor activities. She visited the Grand Canyon last fall and found it "breathtaking."