The PennZone

GREENVILLE, Pa. - PennZone -- Thiel College graduate Breanna Mesich '20 turned her personal voyage of discovery about Celiac Disease into her honors thesis. Her work was published online after the conference where she was scheduled to present her research was canceled.

Mesich's Dietrich Honors Institute thesis, "Celiac Disease: The Masked Enemy," was selected for publication to the Northeast Regional Honors Conference website. Mesich's honors thesis explains the diagnosis, symptoms, possible treatments and mental health effects of Celiac Disease. Mesich, a 2016 graduate of Hempfield Area High School, was a biology major with minors in mathematics, biochemistry and medical biology. Members of Thiel College's (https://www.thiel.edu/) Dietrich Honors Institute are students involved in a rigorous academic curriculum while also being engaged in community service initiatives.

More on The PennZone

• Integris Composites Joins International Sea Power Conference Aboard HMS Prince of Wales
• Commercial Sales Launch Following FDA Approval; National Sales Force Now in Action as January Shipments and Major Market Opportunity Take Shape
• ViewDNS.info Launches Monitors, Alerting Teams the Moment Something Changes on Their Domains
• Philadelphia-Area Entrepreneur Nouho M Kanneh Builds $37 Million Net Worth Across Real Estate, E-Commerce and Retail
• Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley Raises Over $50,000 to Help Feed Local Seniors

The Jeannette, Pa. native was diagnosed with Celiac Disease after experiencing migraines, unexplained weight loss and several other symptoms. She explains to her audience how the autoimmune disease has affected her life, and the importance of being aware of the disease for everyone, especially those who prepare food for someone with this life-changing, mentally draining, emotional and extremely physical disease. Thiel College Associate Professor of Biology Sarah Swerdlow, Ph.D. supervised Mesich's paper.

Students were supposed to present in April at the annual conference in Albany, N.Y; however, the conference was canceled. In an effort to recognize any student presenter who still wished to showcase work, the webpage was created.

At Thiel, Mesich is active in Chi Omega women's fraternity, National Society of Leadership and Success, Kappa Mu Epsilon honorary society for mathematics, Beta Beta Beta honorary society for biology, Lambda Sigma honor society for sophomores, Les Lauriers service honorary, Order of Omega Greek service honorary, the American Chemical Society, and the Thiel softball and golf teams. She was a super tutor for The Learning Commons, a resident assistant and a lab assistant for the Department of Biology. Mesich also raised money for Make-A-Wish, which is Chi Omega's philanthropic organization and worked with The Good Shepherd.

More on The PennZone

• Contracting Resources Group Named a 2027 Elev8 GovCon Honoree by OrangeSlices
• Malcolm Hill: The Laughter, Legacy and Determination Behind a Philly Comedy Mainstay
• The World's No.1 Superstar® Brings Christmas Back in Grand Style with Music, Cinematic Glamour, and Luxury Fashion
• New Six-Figure Media Agreement Builds Powerful Momentum, Expanding Government Contracts, FBI Access and Growing AI Recognition: Cyabra (NAS DAQ: CYAB)
• Christmas Beats Summer in Paris: Travel Photoshoots Peak on Dec. 30

She is the daughter of Brian and Susan Mesich, of Jeannette, Pa.

About Thiel College

Thiel College (https://www.thiel.edu/admissions) is a private liberal arts institution founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2016 and remains committed to combining tradition with innovation.