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Milton Childs Jr. will soon be a two-time graduate of �ؾ���. The Milwaukee native initially chose to come to �ؾ��� to play baseball. Milton reflects fondly on his undergraduate experience playing for the Lakers baseball team and falling in love with the city of Chicago. However, it was the relationships he formed with his faculty that truly marked his time at �ؾ���. These relationships brought Milton back to �ؾ��� to pursue his doctorate in pharmacy.

After finishing his bachelor of science, Milton followed in the footsteps of his father and brother by enlisting in the military. During seven years of active duty in the U.S Navy, Milton became an officer. As a young Black officer, Milton encouraged his sailors to realize, “the way you were raised is not necessarily the way that life is.” Being open to other peoples’ perspectives is a constant value to Milton. Now a reservist, Milton has applied the discipline and skills he learned in the military to his education. Milton had this to say of �ؾ���’s culture:

“You’ve gotta embrace the differences. It’s very diverse, and that makes it a better experience, because during teamwork, those differences coming together make a big difference. You’re seeing different perspectives and you’re approaching problems differently. If you’re able to embrace the differences, it makes it easier to navigate the world.”

Milton cites the relationships fostered with his professors as the most meaningful factor in returning to the University for his doctorate. Professors like Dean Dr. Kelly Wentz-Hunter and Dr. Norbert Cordeiro were mentors that encouraged him to further his education and helped provide opportunities for both research and real-world experience. Shortly after undergrad, Milton participated in a University-funded research trip to Tanzania. There, Milton worked on research projects while assisting Dr. Cordeiro and his team. To Milton was of great personal importance, since it was his first trip to Africa.

For his doctorate, Milton remembered his former professors. Dr. Wentz-Hunter offered guidance and encouragement throughout his application process. Today, Milton is midway through his doctoral program and a high achiever. Milton was elected president of the �ؾ��� chapter of the American Pharmacist Association-Academy of Student Pharmacists. He was also awarded the 2023 American Dream Award at �ؾ���. Milton was then chosen to give an oral presentation at the Louis Stokes Midwest Regional Center for Excellence Annual Conference. Dean Kelly Wentz-Hunter had this to say of Milton:

“I have known Milton for more than a decade as first an undergraduate biology student and now as a doctorate student in Pharmacy. During all of that time, Milton has demonstrated himself to be a very serious student who realizes that there is much more to education than just earning good grades. From the cultural awareness and immersion that I witnessed during the study abroad trip to Tanzania in 2014 to his involvement in student governance in the Pharmacy program, he has continually demonstrated his commitment to social justice. As a former Naval Officer, Milton has unique perspective on the role of democracy and inclusion on not just a national level but worldwide. We are excited to know that Milton will soon be entering the healthcare field helping to transform the Pharmacy profession.”

Reflecting on his time at �ؾ���, Milton says:

“�ؾ��� has definitely made an impact on me, and so I’ll always be motivated to help support the other students who come through the University as well. That network [of alumni] is just as important as the current students.”

Milton is passionate about �ؾ��� because �ؾ��� has always been passionate about his success. He continued with the following story:

“[�ؾ���’s] social justice background just hits differently. Dean Hogan, after the American Dream award nomination, said, ‘I want even more diversity in the pharmacy department!,’ and I’m thinking it’s already pretty diverse [laughs]. But I love hearing that they see that perspective as well. It’s a lot of opened-minded conversations. Things happen in the world, and �ؾ��� responds in real time for their students. There’s a lot of stuff that’s not necessarily measurable happening here at �ؾ���. �ؾ���’s done a lot for me, so the least I can do is give back any way I can.”

�ؾ��� attracts motivated students from an array of backgrounds. Through the work of students like Milton Childs Jr., �ؾ��� is able to achieve its mission of diversity and excellence in education.