Cheerleaders are thought to be pretty and enthusiastic but somewhat vapid. Scientists are thought to be brilliant and hard working but socially clueless. Oil and water, in other words. But Wendy Brown proves that the two callings aren’t mutually exclusive. She has danced on the Georgia Dome sidelines as a Falcons cheerleader and earned renown in the lab for her research in biomedical engineering. She chatted with the Alumni Magazine about her two interests and shattering expectations.
When did you get interested in science?
Since I can remember I’ve wanted to know how things worked and, more specifically, how the human body works. In middle school and high school I became more interested in the biological sciences than chemistry or physics. Biomedical engineering appealed to me as a degree and career path because it combines biological and physiological aspects of medicine with the limitless potential of engineering.
What’s your research focus?
My undergraduate research focused on exploiting the characteristics of fibrin matrices to identify novel antibody fragments that preferentially bind to fibrin over fibrinogen. My focus in graduate school will be on cartilage tissue engineering. Ultimately, I’d like to become a reconstructive surgeon and work to develop biological reconstructive technology for use in surgery.
When did you start cheerleading?
The first sport I was heavily involved with was competitive figure skating. I started dancing as a supplement to that. After I stopped skating, I continued to dance on and off. I was on the dance team at my high school and was captain my senior year. I continued to dance at Tech on the Goldrush dance team, the official dance team of the Athletic Association, and again was captain my fourth year.
How did you come to cheer for the Falcons?
My collegiate coach is a captain and seven-year veteran Falcons cheerleader. Before then I had thought of being a professional cheerleader/dancer as very niche. Once I saw it as a tangible opportunity, I knew I wanted to do it. I saw my fifth year at Tech as the perfect opportunity to push myself and audition to be a Falcons cheerleader. I attended the open audition and earned one of 32 spots on the team out of the 400 ladies that auditioned.
Will you be on the squad this coming season?
Unfortunately I will not be cheering this coming season and that breaks my heart. I’m moving to the Sacramento area to attend graduate school at the University of California Davis. I’d like to continue dancing for another professional team once I get settled. The cheerleaders and the Falcons organization have really become like a family for me and I will miss everyone so much.
Are there any similarities in cheerleading and academic work?
I have goals in both realms, and I work methodically and persistently to achieve those goals. For me, it all comes down to working hard for what I want.
What are your favorite cheerleading and research memories?
My favorite cheer memory is a tie between two, the first of which is hearing my name called after the final Falcons cheer audition and knowing that I had made the team. The second is skipping onto the field, in line and in sync with the other cheerleaders, at my first Falcons game as a cheerleader, seeing thousands of waving Falcons flags and hearing the roar of the crowd. My favorite memory from school is better described as a feeling. After five years of classes, three years of research and one published, peer-reviewed scientific journal article, I feel accomplished, confident that I have the foundational knowledge to achieve anything I put my mind to and proud of how hard I’ve worked.
Are people from the science world surprised to learn you’re a cheerleader and vice versa?
Most people don’t expect this science/cheer combination so usually there is a moment of surprise, followed by something like, “That is so cool!” Where I grew up, people seemed to think that you couldn’t be both pretty and smart, and they made that clear in how they treated people. I’d like to be a role model for young women and show there is no reason one can’t be pretty, glamorous, athletic, smart and successful with whatever their academic or career goals are. There is no reason you can’t have it all.
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