Amber Mascia graduated from Pocono Mountain West High School in 2021 as the valedictorian of her senior class. She attended Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where she became a Fire Support Specialist in the U.S. Army. Amber enrolled at Keystone College in the fall of 2022. She declared a major in Forensic Biology, later adding a minor in Psychology and ultimately pursuing a second major in Chemistry.
Amber is highly involved in campus life. During her freshman year, she managed the women’s lacrosse team. She also served all four years as an Admissions Ambassador, providing campus tours and supporting prospective students.
Amber was a member of the cheerleading team and served as captain during her senior year. She reestablished the Armed Forces Club and organized donation drives and assembled care packages for veterans and deployed service members. The club also partnered with the Counseling and Well-Being Center to host the annual “Stomp Out the Stigma” suicide awareness walk.
In her senior year, Amber joined the Student Government’s Community Outreach Board, where she helped organize events for student engagement. She was also a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, Chi Alpha Sigma, vice president of Alpha Lambda Delta and participated in the Honors Program.
Amber’s honors projects explored the fentanyl epidemic, biases within the criminal justice system, and postpartum depression. She developed a case study examining eating disorders and their physiological effects.
In her genetics coursework, Amber analyzed cancer genomes, which introduced her to large-scale genomic data analysis. These experiences directly influenced her senior capstone research, which investigates whether CBD exposure influences behavior in subsequent generations.
Amber interned with the Scranton Police Department’s crime scene unit, where she assisted with evidence collection and processing. She observed autopsies at the forensic center and assisted with postmortem fingerprint identification. She also worked as a Public Safety Aide with the Ocean City Police Department.
Amber served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard throughout her college career, achieving the rank of Sergeant. Most recently, she participated in a multinational training mission in Estonia, where she worked alongside units from the Maryland National Guard and 11 allied nations.
After graduation, Amber plans to work as a research assistant before pursuing a PhD in molecular biology and genetics. Amber’s time at Keystone College provided her with opportunities to grow academically, professionally, and personally while forming lasting connections and discovering her passions.
