If you love math and science, and you want to serve the elderly and the poor, what do you do to earn a living?

Laura C. Luther answered that question by deciding to become a pharmacist.

“Pharmacy fits all the criteria for me,” Luther said. “It is a challenging career, and it is one that will allow me to serve a diverse population.”

Although Luther admits to having “no clue” about what type of pharmacist she wants to become, she’s OK with that.

“I still have a few years to decide,” said Luther, who is in the second year of the professional program. “The School of Pharmacy has some incredible faculty members. While they are demanding at times, they are also encouraging and inspiring, and I feel confident that I will be well-prepared when I finish pharmacy school.”

Luther attended Oak Grove High School in Hattiesburg, where she played French horn in the band and was president of the school’s National Honor Society chapter. She was also a member of the student council, Mu Alpha Theta and Beta Club.

A National Merit finalist, Luther received academic awards in Chemistry II, Advanced Placement Chemistry, Spanish II and U. S. Government.

“I guess my proudest achievement is being elected by my peers to serve as the Pharmacy Student Body president for this school year,” she said. “I would really like to encourage a greater sense of unity within the school, and I hope to achieve this through better communication between the Oxford and Jackson campuses and through increased participation of the early entry and pre-pharmacy classes.”

Her favorite thing about Ole Miss is the Grove. “It’s the perfect place to study, take a nap, eat lunch, or even throw a Frisbee between classes, although I can’t say that I have much free time.” she said.

“Once school starts, I usually make a reading list, and I spend my Christmas and summer breaks catching up on all the books that I couldn’t read during the semester. I also really enjoy dancing and watching Food Network.”

Her favorite book is “Blue Like Jazz” by Donald Miller, her favorite movie is “The Sandlot,” and her iPod has lots of Relient K, Lecrae, Mae and Queen.

Luther, it seems, is as diverse as the population she hopes one day to serve.