UCM Academic & Athletic Opportunities Prepare Biology Major for Dentistry Career

Biology (Pre-Dental) major Carly Youngblood will graduate with her bachelor’s degree during Fall 2025 Commencement.

 

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The University of Central Missouri offers a community of support, allowing students to redefine what’s possible as they forge a path to their future. With help from faculty and staff, UCM students are empowered to be the heroes of their own stories and as we prepare for Fall 2025 Commencement, the News Bureau is shining a spotlight on some of those stories.

 

Carly Youngblood found success in the classroom and on the softball field at the University of Central Missouri (UCM), all part of her path toward a career in dentistry.

The Monroe City, Missouri, native will receive her bachelor’s degree during Fall 2025 Commencement after majoring in Biology (Pre-Dental) with minors in Chemistry and Health Studies. 

Youngblood’s interest in science and math began at a young age and eventually led her to the field of dentistry. She said UCM felt like the right fit, offering pre-dental classes and an opportunity to continue her athletic career with the Jennies Softball team.

 

“Softball is a big reason why I chose to come to UCM, and I'm really grateful for all the people that it's brought me,” she said. “All my teammates are some of my closest friends now. It's been really great in that aspect. It's taught me a lot about discipline, and I have to work really hard to maintain such a hectic schedule and to do well in my classes academically as well as with athletics.”

Throughout her college career, Youngblood maintained her focus on academics, all while competing with Jennies Softball for three years as a utility outfielder. She was named to the MIAA Academic Honor Roll in 2024 and received an MIAA Academic Excellence Award the same year. In 2023 and 2024, she earned an individual Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete Award.

Youngblood said UCM provided her with many opportunities to explore her passion for science. She was a member of several UCM student organizations, including her tenure as treasurer of Para-Medico, a pre-professional organization dedicated to supporting students in their pursuit of careers in health care and medicine.

Her academic experiences extended beyond campus, such as her summer internship at the Whiteman Air Force Base dental clinic.

“I really got to see a whole different side of dentistry, which opened my eyes to everything that career path offers,” Youngblood recalled. “I was able to see the oral surgery and different types of specialties, which was a really great experience.” 

Youngblood said the Biology and Chemistry departments are filled with knowledgeable, friendly and supportive faculty members who are invested in student success. She eventually found herself supporting fellow students as a teaching assistant for Parker Stuart, Ph.D., associate professor of Biology. For two semesters, she answered student questions as they arose in the Human Anatomy course and helped with open lab hours when students were seeking extra time with course material.

 

“Human anatomy is a really fun subject to teach. And I've just found that I really love helping people that are in the same position that I was just a couple of semesters ago,” Youngblood said. “So that's been really great to meet people and to help teach about something that I'm passionate about.”

Stuart said that Youngblood jumped right into the teaching assistant role on day one, an example of her impressive work ethic and organizational skills.

“She was not afraid to approach students and engage them on both an academic and personal level,” Stuart explained. “She sits with students in the lab and does not leave until she knows the students understand the material. She cares about their learning and is empathetic to their needs. Both are traits I look for in teaching assistants.

“Carly is the only student in the lab and must field a variety of questions and concerns from the other students,” he added. “She needs to switch between her 'teaching hat, 'counseling hat' and 'student hat' depending on the student’s needs and she does this effortlessly.”

Youngblood has been accepted to the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry’s reserved admissions program, where she will begin studying next fall. In the meantime, she plans to work at a dental office to gain even more experience for her future career as a dentist.

 

“If freshman Carly could see me right now, I think she would be very proud,” Youngblood said. “The road to a doctorate program is very long and difficult. They don't make it easy. But just to have that acceptance and to know my next steps, it's really exciting. I've always wanted to be a dentist, and so the fact that I'm one step closer and UCM has given me the opportunity to get one step closer, it's been really special.”

 

       

Check the News Bureau daily from Dec. 8-12, as we share stories of UCM graduates who are redefining what’s possible and shaping the future, one step across the stage at a time.