Hannah Berrett, Ph.D.

TCC 50 Notable Alumni

50th Anniversary Notable Alumni Feature Hannah Berrett, Ph.D.: Hannah is Tulsa Community College’s youngest graduate ever. She completed her associate degree in Mathematics at the age of 15, having started at the College at just 12 years old. After graduating TCC in 2007, she went on to earn two bachelor’s degrees in Biochemistry and Spanish and her doctoral degree in Cell Biology. She recently finished her third year of medical school and will earn her M.D. in 2021. After graduating, she hopes to begin translational research in the field of rheumatology.

“My TCC instructors enriched my worldview and stretched me to grow while still being supportive of me while that growing process happened,” she said. “The resources TCC provided, especially the Science and Mathematics lab, were critical to my success as a TCC student and thereafter. I graduated from the College feeling confident that I was ready for the demands of my successive degrees.”

During her graduate education, Hannah was active on campus serving as a student representative on the Graduate Education Committee, where she conveyed the needs of the students to the faculty and facilitated communication about expectations between the faculty and students. Outside of school, she was a founding member of Swingout OKC, a non-profit organization that teaches vintage swing dancing, and she served on the group’s council for three years. She also served on the board for Scissortail Swing, a national event hosted by Swingout OKC.

With a passion for science communication, she has published two capsule review articles with ImmunoBites.com, a science communication project intended to convey readable, simplified digests of current immunology research and their context in the field. She also won an outstanding poster award at OK-WISE 2018 for her ability to communicate research well to people outside of the field.