When Shereiff Garrett crossed the stage at the Crown Coliseum on May 9, she was part of a historic milestone. She joined the largest group of degree earners in Fayetteville State University's history.

The institution awarded 1,003 baccalaureate degrees during the morning ceremony. This was part of a record-breaking weekend during which the institution conferred 1,247 degrees.

Among the students, Garrett, a computer science major, Navy Veteran and first-generation graduate, represents the talent, discipline and purpose FSU sends into the workforce and advanced study.

Two months before graduation, Garrett placed first in the Computer Science and Information Management oral presentation category at the 2026 Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference in Atlanta. The event, hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National Science Foundation, included 400 presentations and over 700 participants. Garrett’s project used artificial intelligence to help detect pneumonia in pediatric chest X-rays, blending technical skill and personal motivation.

Her study grew from a personal ordeal. Her younger brother’s bout with pneumonia led her to investigate how medicine and AI can collaborate to provide faster, more informed care. Under the guidance of her mentor, Chandra M. Adhikari, Ph.D., and co-mentor, Bhoj R. Gautam, Ph.D., she developed the project while balancing the demands of student life.

“Research is a big way of giving back to humanity and also leaving a legacy behind that will continue to serve others when I’m long gone,” Garrett said in a press release.

This sense of duty translates into significant practical applications.

Garrett's award-winning presentation also reflected personal growth in communication. Determined to make her technical work accessible, Garrett focused on conveying the story behind her research rather than just the code and model comparisons.

“I’ve always loved stories,” Garrett said in a press release. “I thought, if I share my work as a story, maybe people will be able to follow along and truly understand.”

That combination of intellectual depth and public purpose guides Garrett’s next chapter. This fall, she begins a doctoral program in computer science at Johns Hopkins University to continue research in medical AI.

Garrett’s path has been unconventional. Before FSU, she served three years in the Navy as a gas turbine mechanic and worked as a truck driver. Inspired by podcasts, she switched to computer science, where campus mentorship turned her curiosity into a nationally recognized research project. She credits Adhikari, the Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences program and the McNair Scholars Program for guiding her from idea to execution.