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When searching for a college, Tyler Bernius ’27 was not exactly sure what he was looking for. 

He was keen to study in California, where he had spent the first three years of his life, and he wanted a school with a strong focus on science and hands-on research in order to prepare for graduate school and a career in genetic engineering. 

But, he wasn’t sure if he wanted a small or large school, an urban or rural school, or a public or private school. He just wanted a school that felt right. 

One day, he typed a few words into an internet search engine.

“I typed in the words ‘good campus life California’ and Dominican was on the list,” he recalls. 

Tyler, who attended Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, liked what he saw, dug a little deeper, and decided to take a chance on Dominican – without first visiting campus.

“The picture showed a beautiful campus, and I liked the sound of the science program, so I applied and then committed to Dominican as a science major - without visiting.”

Tyler admits that when he makes up his mind to do something, he just jumps right in.

And, that’s exactly what Tyler did his first year at Dominican, adding political science as a second major and considering law rather than science for his graduate degree.

“Last year, I was really enjoying my political science class and started to wonder if I really wanted to be a scientist,” he recalls. “So I decided to major in both biology and political science so that I could be prepared to consider either career.” 

Tyler came to Dominican with a substantial number of advanced placement (AP) credits. He had also taken some dual-enrollment college classes during high school, so he was eager to not only double major but also explore extra-curricular opportunities. 

After adding the political science major, he sought out opportunities that would help with his law school goals while also giving him hands-on insight into politics.

Political science professor Alison Howard was only too happy to help Tyler, impressed by both his focus and determination. 

“I have spent time with Tyler during his freshman year talking about his interests and his future and he expressed early on that not only was he interested in going to law school, but he was also interested in policy and politics. I kept this in mind as I came across different opportunities,” she recalls.

“Over the summer a candidate for a local campaign for the water district reached out to see if I had any students who might be interested in volunteering for the campaign, and I immediately thought of Tyler. This opportunity combines several of Tyler's interests and will allow him to learn about the nuts and bolts of campaigns and engage with the local community.”

The work, which involves campaigning door-to-door, is pushing Tyler out of his comfort level – something he appreciates. 

“I’ve learned not to worry too much about what might go wrong. I don’t want that to stop me from experiencing new things, so I’ve learned just to go ahead and do it.”

Internships and volunteer opportunities, Howard notes, are important parts of Dominican’s Political Science program. Jumping into something new – even if it might at first feel comfortable – is an important part of the learning process.

“I want our students to have "hands-on" experiences that allow them to apply what they are learning and develop connections with the community. These experiences reinforce and demonstrate that they are developing valuable and applicable skills that will help them succeed in the future in whatever it is that they pursue. I am thrilled to see that Tyler is taking advantage of all that Dominican has to offer.”

Tyler remains interested in science and has not ruled out a future as a genetic engineer, specifically because it aligns with his desire to work on behalf of the greater good.

“I first started to think about a career in genetic engineering because I enjoy biology and I want to do something that will help people – so this is something that would allow me to do this on a mass scale,” he says. 

This semester Tyler is particularly enjoying a course in genetics and molecular biology and, with encouragement from his professor, plans to explore research opportunities with Dominican’s educational partner, The Buck Institute. 

When he is not in the classroom or on the campaign trail, Tyler enjoys spending time in the gym and exploring Marin and San Francisco with his friends. Tyler and his roommate, who grew up in Marin, have spent some of their downtime hiking Mt Tam and the Marin headlines. They also enjoy visiting stand-up comedy clubs in San Francisco.

“It’s great having a roommate from Marin – he’s been taking me to a lot of places that I would not have found by myself,” Tyler notes. 

So, while his journey to Dominican was, to some extent, a shot in the dark. His experiences at Dominican have made an impact. 

“Being part of a small school has its advantages – even more than you would initially think,” Tyler says. 

“Professor Howard introduced me to the campaigning job, my science professor told me about the research opportunities available at the Buck. My professors see where I want to go and are connecting me with opportunities to get there. They are also spending time to talk with me and to get to know me personally, and I am not sure I would get that level of attention at a larger school.

Photo credit: Malik Maxwell '27