Kristina Gusty
An immigrant from Czech Republic, Kristina Gusty came to the United States with her parents when she was a child. Kristina has served as an Honors College Mentor and focused her studies on inorganic chemistry. As an aspiring physician she witnessed many situations where her family was unable to communicate effectively with health care professionals which almost led to a mistake. Kristina has pursued Russian at the Critical Languages Institute in order to collaborate with professionals from around the world in clinical research because it accounts for a quarter of published scientific research.
An Honors College graduate, Kristina is pursuing a Ph.D. at Boston University.
How did your mentor encourage and foster your research and academic trajectory?
Dr. McManus has always encouraged me to get the most out of my research in the lab. He always makes sure that I am learning by explaining each step in a synthesis, instead of giving me instructions to blindly follow. For all of this, I am extremely grateful.
What does the OCF mean to you?
Working with the Office of Competitive Fellowships has been one of the best experiences I have had at FGCU. Not only has Dr. Terumi helped me in writing applications, but he has also helped me expand on my personal and academic confidence. Dr. Terumi has allowed me to become a part of a community of students at FGCU where I feel comfortable and at home. Thank you so much Dr. Terumi for all of your guidance, and I am looking forward to what comes next!
What is the Critical Language Institute Virtual Acquisition Program?
The Critical Languages Institute (CLI) at Arizona State University’s Melikian Center is a national training institute for less commonly taught languages, offering summer intensive courses and study-abroad programs around the world. CLI instruction in Arizona and abroad is practically focused and proficiency-based. Students not only study a language, but learn to live that language.
