Henton was an active student, involved in the IC Wind and Jazz Ensembles, president for Relay for Life and a recipient of the Sturtevant Service and Leadership Award. She says the most meaningful and influential aspect of her time as an undergraduate was the close mentorship of professors, like Drs. Jeremy Turner ’95 and Elizabeth Rellinger Zettler. Henton was able to engage in student-faculty research in Turner’s laboratory, conducting research that focused on hearing loss and tinnitus — a topic that immediately resonated with her.

“Music was my segue into neuroscience,” said Henton. “I have played oboe for years and was involved in the music department since my freshman year. Because of my background, Dr. Turner’s research in the auditory system really appealed to me. I thought it was fascinating how the brain perceives sound, and ultimately complex sounds such as music. This work inspired my interest in studying disorders of the auditory system.”

As a first-generation college student, the one-on-one mentorship from faculty also gave Henton the confidence to continue her education to graduate school, continuing research that stemmed from her work with Turner. The summa cum laude graduate majored in psychology with a minor in music, and she is currently a Ph.D. candidate for neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Neuroscience.