Long before she was balancing college softball, science labs, and a color-coded planner full of to-do lists, Makena Alexander ’27 was a kid running around local ballfields in Frankton, Indiana. 

What first started as Pee Wee Baseball soon transitioned to a softball league at the age of six—and then a travel league at the age of 10. The pace, the teamwork, and the competition quickly turned a childhood activity into a passion that would fuel her all the way to college. 

Now a junior Health Sciences major/Chemistry minor at Butler University, Alexander has turned that early love for the sport into a collegiate softball career while also preparing for a future in healthcare. 

Alexander’s academic interests were influenced long before she stepped onto campus. Her mother, a nurse, introduced her to the world of healthcare at a young age. 

“I was around the hospital a lot when I was younger,” Alexander says. “Because of that, I knew I wanted to go into the medical field, but I didn’t really know what field. And then I saw Butler’s Health Sciences program would give me the opportunity to go wherever I want.” 

The flexibility of Butler’s Physician Assistant program appealed to her. For Alexander, exploring different areas of healthcare while building a strong scientific foundation was key. 

However, her favorite learning experiences at Butler have taken place outside the classroom. Through experiential learning opportunities for her Indianapolis Cultural Requirement class, Alexander has spent time working with elderly residents at Fairview Presbyterian Church. 

“I was just there hanging out with elderly men and women who were absolutely phenomenal,” Alexander says. “Listening to all of their stories is probably my favorite bit of the semester.” 

Whether she’s studying for exams on a team bus, learning through hands-on-experience, or stepping up to bat, Alexander approaches each challenge with careful planning and genuine passion. The lessons of hard work, resilience, and teamwork that she learned through softball are the same ones guiding her toward a future career in healthcare.