Charlotte Pugh

A 2022 graduate of St. Hubert Catholic High School for Girls, Charlotte Pugh was introduced to GMercyU through her school, and was drawn in for several reasons.

There were a few selling points for me, first being a school that had a high commuter population, as this allowed me to live at home and save money, as I am paying for my higher education. Second, the class and program size were very appealing, as it gave me an opportunity to create a close relationship with my professors, especially as a biology major with a chemistry minor. Lastly, the opportunity to further my athletic career at the DIII level wrapped it into a neat bow, as it allowed me to continue athletics while simultaneously focusing on academics.

Charlotte’s fist visit to campus was with the former head coach of the Women’s Volleyball program and two players on the team. She enjoyed getting to see campus, specifically The Griffin Complex, the residence halls, and Maguire Hall, and meeting the team and experience the campus atmosphere.

Campus Life

“My favorite parts about GMercyU are the opportunities and support that it has given me, through academics from my classmates and professors, and in athletics, from my coaches and my teammates. It’s allowed me to make lifelong friends, and excellence mentors, ho have all helped in the advancement of my education and navigation through life after Gwynedd,” said Charlotte.

Despite being a commuter, Charlotte has an exciting campus life. She’s an active member of Alpha Lambda Delta, the first-year honor society, where she attends meetings and events throughout the year, and the current Student Government (SGA) Representative of the Student Association of Science (SAS), of which she is the rising President for the 2025-2026 academic year. As an SGA Representative, Charlotte is responsible for communicating with fellow SGA members about upcoming events and meetings for SAS, and for sharing student concerns.

Life as a Student-Athlete

Since her first year on campus, Charlotte has been a member of the Women’s Volleyball program, and was elected as Captain during her junior year. She’s responsibility for effectively communicating with coaches and players while helping to establish a positive culture for incoming teammates.

“My experience as a student-athlete has positively impacted my career at GMercyU, as it has established and enhanced my time management skills by establishing a schedule for homework and studying versus games and practices. It has also taught me how to effectively communicate to professors, coaches, and teammates about the conflicting schedules. Along with these lessons, athletics as GMercyU has been an escape from the stress of academics,” Charlotte shared.

Volunteer Work

Outside of her busy life on campus, Charlotte makes time to volunteer within her community. Specifically, she’s volunteered with the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) Bucks County organization to clean, maintain, and organize supplies for human sex-trafficking victims. Charlotte is currently volunteering at Shamrock Reins Equine Therapy, an organization working with veterans battling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Academic Experience

Charlotte is majoring in Biology and minoring in Chemistry to help her fulfill the necessary prerequisites for dental school.

My experience in the program has been nothing short of amazing. All the professors, especially Dr. McEliece and Dr. Lettini, have supported and aided in my success within the program. Their passion for science has allowed me to absorb and embrace all there is to learn within the field of biology.

A highlight for Charlotte so far was her summer research project with Dr. Lettini. She has the opportunity to work alongside her professor in laboratory work correlated to her career goal as a dentist. She studies and analyzed the growth microorganisms commonly found in the oral cavity, peaking her interest in the continuing of research.

During the fall of 2024, Charlotte completed a weeklong externship at Rutgers School of Dental Medicine (RSDM), gaining hands-on experience in a clinical laboratory setting at a dental school, sitting in lectures from professors at RSDM, and connecting with current students, professors, and the admissions team.

“This opportunity solidified career goal of becoming a dentist,” Charlotte said.

Post-Graduation Plans

Charlotte’s dream is to become a dentist, and she plans to begin the process of applying to dental school this upcoming June. She is also considering applying for the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) through the United States Navy. This program would provide her with the opportunity to practice as a dentist with the U.S. Navy for four years after graduating dental school.