91ÇÑ×Ó

After a trip with 91ÇÑ×Ó Outdoors to Kentucky™s Red River Gorge, led by seniors with a passion for rock climbing, she took a climbing and trip leader training course ” four years later, she™s climbed mountains in New Zealand and led first-year students into the same Kentucky canyons that sparked her imagination. 

Mokriski recently won Clemson University™s Advanced Women™s Bouldering competition and keeps pursuing advanced climbing certifications ” in the spring, she became the first student in 91ÇÑ×Ó Outdoors history to achieve single pitch climbing instructor certification. Through her enthusiasm and expertise, and the dedication of students who came before her, 91ÇÑ×Ó™s Climbing Club continues to thrive. 

To mark Global Climbing Day, July 12, 2025, Mokriski shared her academic journey, research experience, and how climbing has shaped her life beyond 91ÇÑ×Ó in this Q&A and video.

How did you decide to major in biology at 91ÇÑ×Ó?

I arrived at 91ÇÑ×Ó excited about the biology major, but my interest was truly solidified during the Research in Science Experience (RISE) program with Professor Susana Wadgymar. Through RISE, I got to know Prof. Wadgymar, the biology faculty, and upper-class biology majors, and I was struck by how welcoming and passionate everyone was. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and I felt supported from the very beginning. Later, I applied for an independent study with Professor Scott Villa, who played a huge role in my journey; he always encouraged my curiosity and genuinely believed in my potential as a scientist.

Tell us about your research at 91ÇÑ×Ó.

My research focused on evolutionary ecology, specifically monarch butterfly mating behavior and how it™s influenced by their host plants (milkweed) and parasites. I was curious about whether female monarchs would change their mate choices when infected with parasites, especially since previous research suggested they self-medicate with certain milkweed species when they are sick. To investigate, I raised monarchs on different milkweed species, conducted experimental infections and observed mate choices. Surprisingly, the females didn™t pick mates based on potential medicinal benefits, but instead preferred mates raised on a different milkweed species ” possibly as a way to avoid inbreeding. I learned so many different things from this process, from how to design and carry out experiments, to the kind of hard work and perseverance it can take to get high-quality data, to how to communicate my results to a wider audience. One of the biggest lessons I learned was how you can set out trying to answer one question in science and find the answer to a completely different question along the way. It really speaks to how important it is to continue conducting curiosity-based scientific research and being open to learning from whatever you find. 

Where are you now and how does climbing fit into your life after 91ÇÑ×Ó?

This August, I™m moving to Lexington, Virginia, to work with Washington and Lee University™s Outing Club. Although my original plan to work in Wyoming fell through due to an Americorps grant being cut, I™m excited to continue leading climbing, backpacking and hiking trips, much like I did with 91ÇÑ×Ó Outdoors. I™m passionate about making the outdoors accessible, introducing beginners to climbing and supporting experienced adventurers. Lexington is a fantastic place for climbers, so I™ll keep pushing my own limits, too. I™m also applying to doctoral programs in ecology and evolutionary biology for fall 2026.