Class of 1999
February 15, 2022
A 1999 graduate of Shawnee State University, alumnus John Paul used his biology degree to propel him into a career in the food industry. Currently working as a food manufacturing auditor, Paul credits his success to his degree, experience in various jobs, and his time in the industry.
“In the food industry, biology is the group that comes in to run manufacturing and quality control jobs,” he said. “I’ve ran into countless biology majors that go into the food industry. Shawnee gave me the best basis of biology for this career.”
During his first year at SSU, Paul was not sure what degree pathway he wanted to pursue. After taking various biology classes, he quickly realized he had found his passion in this field.
“In my degree coursework I took zoology, ecology, microbiology – and loved it,” he said. “I also took advanced anatomy where you get to practice on a cadaver. It was the most life-changing class I could have ever taken. At that time, only four undergraduate programs offered that class in the state of Ohio – one being Shawnee. I knew biology would challenge me and make me better in my future.”
After graduation, Paul found his way into the food industry, working specifically in food manufacturing. He stayed in the manufacturing industry for nearly 20 years before pursuing his auditing career.
“I’m a food safety auditing professional,” he said. “Typically, if manufacturers want to sell to stores like Walmart or Target, they have to have a yearly audit from a third-party. I work at NSF International – a non-profit organization – and I travel every week doing food safety audits.”
SSU’s offers three degrees in Biology that prepare graduates for careers in science – Biology (Biomedical Sciences), Biology (General), and Natural Sciences with a concentration in Biology. In addition to the general biology overview, the programs provide a strong preparation for students interested in graduate or professional schools. Enjoying his time in the field and his time at SSU in his classes, Paul encourages others to try out the field to see if it would be the right fit for them.
“You have to figure out what you like in high school and plan to take some related classes in college,” he said. “You don’t have to declare your major right away, but you need to see what you really like. And I found out I really loved biology and science.”
To learn more about Shawnee State University’s Biology programs, visit shawnee.edu/biology.