Rebecca Shelley is double majoring in Cell Molecular and Developmental Biology and English Literature. Rebecca is currently conducting research in Dr. Brittany Allen-Petersen’s lab on pancreatic cancer. She is a member of the editorial board for the Journal of Purdue Undergraduate Research and a mentor for the Women in Science program. She also is a 2021 recipient of the English Department’s Kneale Essay Award in British Literature. I was able to talk with her about her experience in both STEM and Liberal Arts at Purdue.

This year marked the seventieth anniversary of “Books and Coffee,” a long Purdue tradition celebrating literature, camaraderie, and good cheer during the long, cold Indiana winters. Sponsored by the English Department and the Purdue Student Union Board, “Books and Coffee” runs every Thursday afternoon in February, with faculty guest speakers each discussing a featured book. In years past, attendees enjoyed coffee and other refreshments as they learned more about a book that had been making a splash in contemporary popular culture. During each event, participants could enter a raffle to win branded merchandise or even a free copy of the book. All books selected for the program were available for purchase at both Von’s Book Shop in West Lafayette and Second Flight Books in Lafayette.