Shirley Maldonado-Perez, '27

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Languages: English, Spanish
High School: Downtown Magnets High School 
Major: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Main Extracurricular Activities: Biolingo, Women in Computer Science, PALANA

Hello, my name is Shirley Maldonado-Perez. I am from Los Angeles and am majoring in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. I am interested in the analysis of biological data and would like to enter the field of Bioinformatics. I enjoy attending cultural events held by Middlebury, especially when there’s food available! Please reach out if you would like to talk! 

What is your favorite food in the dining hall?

My favorite food in the dining hall is fried squid and shrimp. It does not happen very often but I get excited when I see it on the menu!

If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self during the college search/application process?

If I could go back in time I would say to apply to any programs or colleges even if I don’t feel confident in them. I would also ask as many questions and not be afraid to explore more options. 

Why did you choose to attend Middlebury?

I learned about Middlebury in my senior year of high school through a student that was studying at the college during that time. I already knew that I wanted to attend a liberal arts college to take a diverse set of classes that allowed me to explore other areas of study besides the STEM department. I also appreciated that Middlebury had an interdisciplinary department like Molecular Biology and Biochemistry which integrated subjects that I was interested in.