Dr. Brittany Avin McKelvey ’15 Receives Roaring10 Award

Brittany Avin McKelvey of Fayetteville, N.C., directs regulatory affairs for Friends of Cancer Research, an advocacy organization that seeks to speed up life-saving research for patients with cancer.

After completing bachelor’s degrees in both genetics and biochemistry from Clemson in 2015, she earned a doctorate in molecular biology and genetics in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine’s Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Program in 2020.

A childhood cancer survivor, Brittany is a peer volunteer for the Thyroid Cancer Survivors’ Association. She formed a support group within the association to help teenagers who are diagnosed with thyroid cancer, as she was at age 13. She is active in the National Cancer Institute as a member of its Council of Research Advocates and the Technology Research Advocacy Partnership. She has spoken as a patient research advocate in settings ranging from local radio shows to Capitol Hill.

In the Fayetteville community, she volunteers at the U.S. Airborne and Special Operations Museum and with United States Organizations (the USO) in support of the military community, given her husband is an active duty service member.

While at Clemson, Brittany was named a Goldwater Scholar, considered the most prestigious national scholarship award for undergraduates in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. She received the Norris Medal as the best-all-around graduating senior in 2015.

She returns to campus often to discuss her career path in science with both undergraduates and graduate students. She also volunteers with the National Scholars program and the Honors College, both of which she participated in as a student.