˿����Ƶ

It’s not how you start, but how you finish. For Mo Walts ’25, their journey to becoming a pharmacist wasn’t always the plan. In fact, they found their calling to pharmacy in a bit of a weird way.

“I originally wanted to be a physician, and for years I said no to my advisor who kept pushing pharmacy,” they said. “It wasn’t until junior year, during COVID, that I finally caved and did an internship at a hospital pharmacy in my hometown. By lunchtime on the first day, I texted her and said, ‘All right, let’s figure out how to go to pharmacy school.’ Everything just clicked.”

They described it as discovering something they didn’t know had been missing.

Walts graduated from Wells College with a bachelor’s degree and started grad school at ˿����Ƶ soon after. They said the change from Wells to ˿����Ƶ was a bit of a shock in some ways.

“Wells College was tiny—I once took a class where it was just me and the professor,” they said. “So walking into a lecture hall with 80 students here and hearing it called ‘small’ was jarring. I felt totally out of place. But slowly I adjusted, and that experience helped me realize how adaptable I really am. It made me appreciate both where I came from and where I’m going.”

Advocating for the LGBTQ+ community always has been a big part of Walts’ life. They recently were awarded the Outstanding Grad Award at ˿����Ƶ’s 2025 Lavender Celebration. The event is designed to honor and affirm the academic achievements of queer and trans graduates as well as recognize students, faculty and staff who have engaged with and uplifted the LGBTQ+ campus community.

“When I saw there was a grant from the New York State AIDS Institute, I knew I wanted to apply and focus on LGBTQ+ care gaps in education,” they said. “I conducted a needs assessment at the pharmacy school, and the results were clear — students and faculty felt unprepared in areas like gender-affirming hormone therapy.”

Walts then created a lecture series open to everyone, covering everything from basic LGBTQ+ competency to deep dives into pharmacology and treatment standards.

“My goal was to make sure students don’t meet their first LGBTQ+ patient without ever being taught how to care for them,” they said. “If we don’t educate providers early, the gaps in LGBTQ+ healthcare will keep leading to disparities and worse outcomes.”

Realizing that waiting for the curriculum to catch up wasn’t enough, Walts took matters into their own hands and taught the content themself. They worked with faculty and brought in experts to help teach topics like hormone therapy using WPATH and Endocrine Society guidelines.

“Education is power,” they said, “and I wanted to make sure that power was available to every student who wanted to learn.”

Walts’ efforts and advocacy have not gone unnoticed. Once Walts and their team received news they had won the NYS AIDS Institute grant, they were then honored by state Sen. Lea Webb during a ceremony.

“Being recognized by Sen. Webb was such a special moment,” they shared. “It felt like she cared about the work we were doing. We weren’t just grant recipients to her; she saw the importance of addressing health inequities and improving care for marginalized communities. That kind of validation, especially when it’s genuine, means a lot. It reminded me why this work is worth doing, even when it’s hard.”

For Walts, their advocacy and willingness to help others come from the heart: “Helping people around me has always been something I care deeply about. Whether it’s through tutoring, student government, or just lending an ear, I try to be there.”

Mental health in particular is a topic they advocate for constantly because so many students struggle in silence. They became student dean to help amplify student concerns and push for changes.

“I think if you see a problem, you should try to be part of the solution — and that’s how I approach everything here,” they said.

Walts is leaving behind a legacy of advocacy at ˿����Ƶ University. They used their voice to help others, and there is no reason why the students following in their footsteps can’t do the same.

“My advice to future students? Whether it’s in class or in your personal life, speak up and ask questions,” they said. “You have to be an active participant in your own journey — don’t wait for opportunities to fall into your lap. If something’s missing or not working, make the change yourself. You have more power than you think.”