Graduating master's student credits campus community for accelerated success

George Mason graduate turned four years of research, leadership, and mentorship into an accelerated journey to two degrees and a future in pharmacy.

When Xia Parkes crosses the stage at EagleBank Arena this May, she will have completed not one, but two degrees in just four years—a BS in Biology earned in December 2025 and an MS in Systems Biology. Completing both degrees through George Mason’s Bachelor’s to Accelerated Master’s program in such a short time is no small accomplishment. It demands careful planning, academic rigor, and close attention to detail. For Parkes, however, success was not just about discipline; she also credits the support she received throughout her years as a Patriot. 

“I never really felt alone or that I had nobody to count on at Mason,” Parkes said. 

That sense of community is what she says she will miss most after graduation. Through her involvement on campus, she built a strong network of mentors and peers who helped her see possibilities beyond what she once thought she was capable of.

Parkes did not arrive at George Mason certain she wanted to be a scientist. Early on, she envisioned a future in dermatology after shadowing a physician in her hometown of Chesapeake, Virginia. But once she began college-level coursework, lab experiences opened new interests for her. 

Through classes and faculty mentorship, Parkes explored genetics, biochemistry, and skincare research, including work related to hyperpigmentation. An internship at the University of Mississippi further deepened her interest in biochemistry and ultimately led her to Chemistry and Biochemistry Associate Professor Lee Solomon’s lab at George Mason.

There, she contributed to research on protein synthesis and drug delivery, with a focus on targeting lung tumors. Her work involved developing and aerosolizing peptide-based treatments designed to track and inhibit tumor growth. 

“Seeing drug discovery from the ground up has been transformative,” she said. “You don’t just learn about medicine. You see how it’s made, tested, and refined.”

This hands-on research experience, combined with a 12-week internship at Eli Lilly in Indianapolis, helped confirm her next step: pharmacy school. Parkes has been accepted to Virginia Commonwealth University and will begin this fall.

Her academic achievements are matched by deep campus involvement. Over the past four years, she has served as a resident assistant, participated in student government, and worked as a biology peer mentor, learning assistant, and research assistant. She is also president of the George Mason chapter of the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE), which sponsored her to travel to and present at conferences and helped her connect fellow students to research and internship opportunities.

“My involvement came from being pushed by professors, friends, and mentors,” she said. “They helped push me to try things even when I felt out of place.”

One of the more unexpected influences came through the Honors College. As a University Scholar, she entered George Mason as part of a close-knit cohort that provided an early sense of belonging. Later, she joined the Honors College communications team as a lead intern. 

“I never saw myself as a writer or communicator,” Parkes said. “But learning how to tell stories, interview people, and explain complex ideas has been one of the most valuable skills I’ve gained.”

That perspective now shapes how she approaches science.

“Communication is everything,” she said. “If you can’t explain what you’re doing, you can’t bridge the gap between science and the public.”

One of her most meaningful moments came during her undergraduate commencement ceremony. Although her family was unable to attend, she decided to walk after encouragement from friends. When she looked into the stands and saw her friends there, cheering her on, the significance of her support system became clear. “That was when I realized how much showing up matters,” she said.

From a nervous first-year student navigating unfamiliar spaces to a confident leader encouraging others to step beyond self-doubt, Parkes sees her college experience as transformational.

“I came here unsure of myself,” she said. “Now, I leave knowing that what I thought were my limits weren’t limits at all.”

As she prepares for the next chapter in pharmacy school, Parkes hopes future students take one lesson from her journey: perfection is not the goal.

“You don’t have to have everything figured out,” she said. “You just have to keep going and let yourself grow along the way.”

In keeping with a treasured George Mason tradition, she will be easy to spot at graduation, wearing a cap decorated in gratitude to her father, echoing the one she wore as an undergraduate to honor her mother.