Mikey Null began his college search with two goals: studying pharmacy and going away to school. For the Carterville, Illinois, native—raised in a town of fewer than 6,000 people—that meant leaving behind the familiar fields of Southern Illinois for something entirely new.
“I looked up the best private pharmacy schools, and number one was USC,” Null recalls. “I’d never been to California.”
Fast forward to 2025 and Null is graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in pharmacology and drug development and has the honor of delivering the undergraduate address at the USC Mann School’s satellite commencement ceremony.
Then, in the fall, he will return to USC Mann to begin his studies for his doctor of pharmacy degree. “From my first pharmacy class on, I knew I was at the right place,” Null says.
Null has made the most of his time at USC. A trombonist since fifth grade, he spent all four years in the Trojan Marching Band, including last year as trombone section leader. He also served as president of the USC Pre-Pharmacy Society and lead student ambassador for the Mann School.
His drive extends to research. Learning that Trojan CALM—a study on stress and cortisol led by Mann Assistant Professor Amanda Burkhardt—was largely powered by undergraduates, Null reached out and joined the team. For more than 18 months, he’s helped with lab work, participant recruitment and even grant applications.
“He’s very driven, organized and eager to learn and try new things,” Burkhardt says.
This spring, Null traveled with Burkhardt to the American Association of Immunologists conference in Honolulu, where Trojan CALM was showcased as a model for undergraduate engagement in research. He was listed as a co-author on the presentation.
Null’s love of pharmacy began with an interest in chemistry and biology—and a desire to bring medical access to underserved rural communities like his hometown. “I wanted to be involved in healthcare so I could put those interests to good use,” he says.
Music remains a passion as well. Playing in the Trojan Marching Band has been one of the highlights of his college career, Null says, adding that he’ll never forget his first day playing at the Coliseum. “You’re looking up at the wall of seats and seeing everyone on their feet, watching us, being excited that we were there. I knew that all the hard work was worth it.”
Null brought that same sense of enthusiasm and fellowship to his membership and presidency of the USC Pre-Pharmacy Society.
“We all know the Trojan Family is why a lot of people come to USC,” he says. “And the pharmacy community, on top of that, is a great network for people to lean on.”
When he took over the society presidency, the group gathered for formal meetings every other week. Null added social gatherings in between. “We wanted to have a safe, comfortable space for people to come together,” he says.
Looking ahead, Null hopes to one day to work in the pharmaceutical industry, helping his employer ensure they’re following regulations in their clinical trials, development and marketing of drugs. He’s also considering a role as medical science liaison, helping to educate medical providers about a company’s product portfolio, he says. Or, if he chooses a more clinical, patient-facing route, he’d like to specialize in endocrinology.
Before all that, though, he needs to spend his prize winnings. Null represented USC at a collegiate edition taping of the game show The Price is Right earlier this year and won a trip to the Caribbean island of Curacao. He’s taking his mother with him this summer.
Then it’s back to campus and his studies. “Getting the PharmD was always the plan,” he says. “And now I’m going to start it in the fall.”