Alexis Yabsley won the 2015-16 Senior Project Award, but 

she also could have easily won the award for Most Unexpected 
Subject Topic.  As part of her project, she helped women in 
developing countries by performing quantitative analysis of an 
anti-AIDS vaginal ring, which is being developed by Trelyst, a 
Carpinteria-based pharmaceutical company. Trelyst President 
Dr. Mary Russell—a cardiologist and Harvard medical professor—
guided Alexis on the ways of pharmaceutical analysis, while 
also imparting numerous real-world lessons, especially when it 
comes to finding success in a male-dominated industry.

“Dr. Russell introduced me to almost everyone in the small 

company and after about 10 introductions, she pulled me 
inside her office and told me very firmly: ‘you are working in a 
male-dominated world. People make their impressions of you 

SENIOR PROJECT AWARD WINNER 

ALEXIS YABSLEY ’16

“I began to 

realize how 

absolutely 

addictive 

learning and 

exploring 

can be.”

- Alexis Yabsley 

in 15 seconds. Make yourself sound important.’ Already I 
had learned one of the most valuable lessons in life; don’t 
underestimate yourself.”

 Alexis’ research project focused on quantitating 10 

types of defects of a certain type of vaginal ring using digital 
microscopic analysis and visual inspection. She learned to 
operate a $100,000 microscope, got a feel for pharmaceutical 
laboratory development, and learned a lot about work—and 
women—in the real world.

“I learned asking questions is a good thing, not knowing 

everything is OK, taking risks is essential, and being 
independent and standing out is one of the most important 
things for a rising female in the world of science.”

HONORING OUR NEWEST

CUM LAUDE SOCIETY MEMBERS

Senior Project Coordinator Trish McHale presents Alexis with the 
Best Senior Project Award at Commencement 2016.

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