ahead looking
Time Traveler By peter kent
6 REGIS TODAY
Alexis Nicole Zallas revels in the past. On any given day in recent years, Zallas could be the patriotic wife of a powerful general, a colonial hurling taunts at beleaguered British soldiers, or a performer in a traditional Greek dance group. She can also argue the relative merits of classic movies, television shows, and old radio shows—from the Marx Brothers to Jack Benny, Cary Grant to John Wayne—which pre-date her by several decades. But right now she’s focused on the present: veterinary school. “I’ve always wanted to be a veterinarian,” says the Class of 2013 valedictorian and biology major, now in her first year at the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine. “I’ve loved animals for as long as I can remember. I think it’s because I watched John Wayne westerns with my dad while growing up. I just fell in love with the horses. My dad sometimes jokes that I only watch the movies for the horses. As I got older, I realized that combining my love for science and passion for animals would make an exciting career.” Zallas grew up in Lexington, just down the road from Regis (and from Hanscom Field, where her father, a 40-year career Air Force officer, still works today in
a civilian capacity). Like many people of the region, she became fascinated with her hometown’s place in history. “I am an eighteenth century historical re-enactor,” she said. “Growing up in Lexington prompted me to get involved in that. I frequently re-enact at the Minute Man National Historical Park, in several capacities as a member of the Guild of Historical Interpreters, and I also perform as a citizenwitness at the Boston Massacre.” Her favorite role? “Americanborn Margaret Kemble Gage, the wife of General Thomas Gage, the military governor of Massachusetts in 1775,” Zallas said. “Her story is wonderful—a woman from New Jersey high society who some suspect remained sympathetic to her country rather than her to husband by aiding the Sons of Liberty.” When not immersed in America’s colonial past, Zallas is zealous in pursuit of another passion—her Hellenic culture. She’s a member of the Bostonbased Sons and Daughters of Alexander the Great dance group. She and her fellow dancers traveled to Macedonia, Greece, this past summer to perform, sightsee, and bask in their Greek heritage.
She participated in a three-day convention involving dance groups from all over Macedonia. “Greek music and dance have such a rich and beautiful history. I cannot adequately describe the thrill of participating and what it means to me,” she said. “And don’t even get me started on Greek cooking. There’s nothing better than sharing the kitchen with my mom. She’s made me the cook I am today. Some of my fondest memories are cooking side by side with her while taking intermittent dancing breaks—because you just can’t cook without Greek music!” Right now, however, Zallas is devoting all of her time to another role, that of a self-described “science geek.” It’s a passion cultivated and nurtured in her Regis science classes and labs, guided and encouraged by her professors and internship supervisors. “I always want to understand why: Why does this happen? Why do we see this result after administering a medication? I especially love expanding my understanding from the microscopic level to the macroscopic level—what’s happening on a cellular level versus what am I seeing in an actual patient.” A huge boost to her studies and interests came via internships: a three-month stint with the