Worldwide travel, cooking, yoga and taekwondo are only a few of Northwest College alumna Thea Marx’s passions. Originally from Kinnear, Wyoming, she’s been a Cody resident for 20 years, where she’s taken on a variety of roles such as executive director of the Western Design Conference, president of marketing and business consulting firm Marx Productions Inc., and a volunteer at a variety of clinics.
 
Currently, Marx lives in Derby, Connecticut, and attends medical school in the naturopathic medicine program at the University of Bridgeport. She plans to join their acupuncture program next fall and return back to her hometown of Cody in seven years to establish her clinic after completing school and residency.
 
What inspired you to go to medical school?
After I became a mom and during the time I cared for my grandmother through her last years, my childhood dream of becoming a veterinarian was resurrected with a new twist, Naturopathic Medicine. I had to wait 10 years to make it happen, but by then I was absolutely sure it was what I was going to do next in my life.
 
How did you know Northwest College was a good fit for you?
My dad graduated from NWC and always spoke highly of it as did several of my employees. I’d been on campus many times and knew it had a great reputation. The college had everything I needed for pre-requisites and it was close to home. The first day of classes, I knew I was in the right place.
 
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I’ve received much good advice in my life. The very best is this: Don’t cry over anything that can’t cry over you.
 
What do you remember most vividly about your NWC experience?
Three things: a friendship that will last a lifetime, the absolute dedication of my professors who went above and beyond to answer my endless stream of questions and Tom Beyeler’s Sign Language class… a remarkable experience that has forever changed my life.
 
What advice do you have for current students? 
Believe that everything you are being taught will someday be pertinent, no matter how inconsequential it feels at the moment.  NWC professors have a lot to give—take advantage of their knowledge and experience. Learn from them.