Alumni Spotlight: Elisa (Dowling) Kong ’17

Clarke: What has life looked like for you since your time at Clarke? 

Elisa: After graduating from Clarke with degrees in Mathematics and Philosophy, I did my Ph.D. in Statistics at Rice University. My dissertation was entitled, “Statistical Approaches to Identifying Therapeutic Vulnerabilities from Cancer Genomics Data.” Defending my dissertation and then receiving a fellowship from the National Library of Medicine to be able to continue cancer research have been huge professional achievements. 

Now I work as a postdoctoral fellow at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. There, I do cancer research within the Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. My research is in the domain of translational bioinformatics; I get to work with large genomic datasets that come out from clinical trials completed by MD Anderson and assess that data to help identify new potential cancer therapies that can then be translated into preclinical experiments and clinical trials.  

Outside of work, I met my husband, Benson, and we eloped in 2020. Together we have been involved with local charity work, such as making lasagnas for families in need through Lasagna Love. We also walked alongside a refugee family that was newly resettled in Houston through Houston Welcomes Refugees.  

We’ve also enjoyed turning our home into a center of community hosting our house church on occasion, having friends and neighbors over for dinner and game nights, and keeping a guest room open to family and friends to introduce them to Houston. 

Clarke: Wow, it sounds like the Clarke Core Values of Education and Charity still play a big role in your life. Are there other ways you carry the Core Values with you? 

Elisa: I could point to specific actions like pursuing a Ph.D. or my historic involvement with welcoming refugees to Houston, but ultimately, I think the Core Values are best represented in my calling of cancer research.  

Of course, there’s an academic pursuit and desire for a “cure,” but also within the world of therapeutics, we’re concerned about the toxicity of treatments and how to spare patients any adverse effects of treatment that we can. There’s research in how specific cancers can disproportionately affect groups that have historically been marginalized. There’s work to do in implementation and how scientific findings translate into care. For example, examining how care at major cancer centers like MD Anderson compares to the care available in mid- and large-US cities like my hometown of Madison, Wisconsin. Now compare that to care available in rural healthcare environments.  

These are all factors that I consider in my work, and they are heavily influenced by Clarke’s Core Values in support of contributing to care for all people and the common good. 

Clarke: Have you faced any challenges along the way? 

Elisa: One of the biggest challenges came when I first moved to Houston to start my Ph.D. Two weeks after arriving, Hurricane Harvey hit with little notice.  

Very quickly, there was a sense of dependence on community. My apartment was unaffected, so I took in another graduate student whose home was destroyed. We didn’t have enough food or water, and another student who heard left supplies at our door.  

During times like these, I am reminded how my work to build community and support others has brought that same love back to me in return. I was so touched by how many former professors and Clarke staff reached out to me during the hurricane.  

My advice to students today would be to lean into the community that Clarke offers. The student body is small enough that there’s so many ways to be involved with sports, clubs, and service. The familial environment at Clarke is unlike anything at larger schools. Getting involved and making connections will benefit you for years to come. 

Thank you for sharing your story with us, Elisa! Do you know a member of the Clarke alumni community we should highlight? Submit your nominations for a future Alumni Spotlight by emailing alumnirelations@clarke.edu.             

Interview edited for length and clarity.