MONACA, Pa. — Christopher Landrum was not certain pharmacy was the right career when he began college at Penn State Beaver.
The Center Township native and Central Valley High School graduate started at the Beaver campus as a biology major. He said conversations with Professor of Biology Stephanie Petroski and Associate Professor of Biology Cassandra Miller-Butterworth helped to guide him. They encouraged him to complete his biology degree at the Beaver and complete the prerequisites to Howard University’s pharmacy program.
Landrum graduated from Penn State Beaver in 2021 and went on to earn his doctor of pharmacy degree from Howard University in 2025.
Landrum credits Penn State Beaver with giving him the foundation to evaluate that information. He said his courses taught him how to process what he reads, verify information and assess the quality of scientific studies.
“Penn State Beaver really gave me a solid foundation,” Landrum said, adding that the education helped to develop his passion not only for helping people but also for information and critical analysis.
Landrum said he also participated in some ecology research with Professor of Biology Autumn Sabo.
Small class sizes and accessible faculty were important factors when he chose Penn State Beaver, he said. Through dual enrollment, he saw how professors could recognize when students were succeeding or struggling.
“Faculty here will stop their lecture to answer questions and explain until the students understood it,” he said. “They want you to succeed.”
He recalled Professor of Mathematics Chris Wu helping him determine where he was going wrong when he struggled with calculus. Faculty members provided extra challenges to students who were doing well, he said, and additional explanations to those having difficulty understanding the material.
On to Howard
The transition from Beaver County to Howard University offered Landrum a different college experience. He said the area where he grew up is predominantly white and that he was often the only Black person present on campus. Howard, by contrast, is a historically Black university.
“It was not a culture shock, but it was an interesting experience to see that,” Landrum said.
Landrum said he did not feel out of place in Beaver County or at Howard; instead, the difference made him want to help ensure others felt comfortable wherever they were.
At Howard, Landrum said he met faculty members with diverse professional backgrounds and learned that pharmacy offered more career options than he had initially realized. He had once imagined working at a chain, but his education exposed him to other areas of the profession and encouraged him to explore different possibilities.
“It really gave you the option to try different areas,” he said.
Returning to Beaver County
After graduating from Howard, Landrum returned to Beaver County. He now works at Hometown Pharmacy in Brighton Township, where he said the opportunity came through networking and a professional connection. He had been working as an intern at a chain when a pharmacy manager he knew told him about the opening at Hometown Pharmacy.
The experience reinforced the importance of professional relationships.
“It’s not just what you know but who you know,” Landrum said. “You never know who can point you towards a job and give you a good recommendation.”
He said the experience also made him wish he had done more networking while in college. At Hometown Pharmacy, Landrum said he enjoys meeting patients and customers and gaining more professional, real-world experience.
“My favorite part is helping people,” he said. “It’s so cool just getting to be behind that counter and help people.”
Landrum said medication can be difficult for patients to understand, particularly when they do not immediately feel a difference after taking it, and he can help them understand.
“Being able to be there and be that person to help is rewarding,” he said.
Landrum said he also wants to help patients make informed decisions about vaccines and other treatments. People encounter a large amount of information about vaccines, he added, and need reliable guidance.
Landrum’s heart for helping doesn’t stop with his customers at the pharmacy. He also wants to help current Penn State Beaver students, he said.
Since graduating, he has returned to the campus to participate in networking events to share his experiences and offer advice to students who are preparing to start their own career journey.
One thing he wants students to know is that networking is important, and finding your way is a unique journey for each person.
“Everyone is going to be on a different path,” Landrum said. “You can still get to your destination. It’s really just about staying focused on getting to that destination and taking those opportunities that come to you.”