KTSW Loves: NMDP chapter at TXST

By Jissela Cabrera

Co-Assistant Director of Community Relations

With a mission to grow and diversify the global stem cell registry, the NMDP chapter at Texas State is a student-led organization that advocates for the global brand and organizes events to support its mission.

NMDP, formerly known as the National Marrow Donor Program and Be The Match, has evolved into a global, unified, and modernized brand as it’s the largest stem cell registry. Its mission is to save lives through stem cell donations and establish a world where every patient has access to life-saving cell therapy.

I first encountered this organization while they were tabling on The Quad, promoting their cause and educating passing students about joining the stem cell registry. Having been in the registry since I was 18 years old, this organization piqued my interest because I knew the importance of the registry and how a campus like Texas State is the perfect place to grow and diversify it.

I had the honor of speaking with Jocelyn Auxier, founder and president of the Texas State NMDP chapter since the fall of 2024, who proudly spoke about the chapter’s purpose and goals.

She explained that as a chapter, they organize registry drives to register as many people as possible to diversify it, which helps with expanding the search for patients to find their life-saving match. Additionally, their registry drives are to educate the community and students about why they should join and its importance.

“Even if they join the registry now, it might be something they will be called to do in the future,” Auxier said.

“College campuses are the best hubs for donors; doctors look for anyone from age 18 to 25 as the most suitable match. So, Texas State being a Hispanic-serving institution is really important because those are patients that don’t have matches right now, and so we add them.”

Auxier added that the chapter focuses on fundraising a goal of $1000 each semester, due to the costly expenses that is $150 per person added to the registry. So far, they have added over 2000 students to the registry, which is a high expense that the fundraising helps with.

NMDP also focuses on volunteering, which has included tabling at events like Austin City Limits, Two Step Inn, and other music festivals.

Auxier mentioned that they haven’t organized any events in San Marcos yet, as they are still in the early stages as a chapter. However, they have hopes of organizing events soon to engage more of their members in volunteer work.

“We partner with volunteer orgs like HOSA, and Austin Sunshine Camps to put on volunteer events as well, making sure that we’re giving back to a community that we’re asking a lot out of,” Auxier said.

When I attended their second general meeting, I couldn’t help but notice that the entire chapter was not only very welcoming to new members, but they were like a large friend group.

Auxier mentioned that many of their members are health science majors because HOSA, Health Occupations Students of America, is one of their most significant partners and has members in both organizations. However, she clarified that their organization also has a diverse range of majors, including theater and fashion merchandising, and they welcome students from all majors.

She even went on to add that she started this organization majoring in human development and family sciences, and as she became more involved in public health, she changed her major to health science.

“We’re not necessarily a group of people with the same majors, but rather a group of students that just want to save lives,” Auxier said.

The TXST chapter of NMDP is motivated and united by its goal of helping people, and continues to reach new heights, with more registries, volunteer hours, and national recognition in education and recruitment.

“What I’ve come to realize is that these 2,000 registries are 2,000 potential lives, and that is an impact that I could only dream of having two years ago,” Auxier said.

Joining the registry is crucial because every individual is significant, and matching with a patient is so precise that one person could be the sole global match for a patient.

NMDP’s upcoming major event is their March Madness event, scheduled for March 23–26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. across various tables on campus. This week-long event aims to increase the number of registries from the Texas State campus.

Additionally, they hope for more partnerships and collaborations with other Texas State student organizations, as well as more volunteer opportunities and fundraisers.

“We also do a lot of socials, and it’s just so rewarding because volunteering is a big thing,” Auxier said. “So, we’re making sure that everyone feels, you know, thanked for the stuff that they’re doing.”

Auxier expressed that getting involved in a service with a real impact is incredible.

“What I’ve learned is that I’m very lucky to choose NMDP, because I got a choice; most people get a diagnosis,” Auxier said.

“And so, being able to give back and choose an organization instead of, you know, being thrown into it, whether because I was diagnosed or a family member was diagnosed, means a lot. And through the people I’ve met, they’re so incredibly thankful for something that I think is just the right thing to do.”

NMDP meets every other Tuesday in Ingram 3105 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

For more information about their events and meetings, visit their Instagram @txst_nmdp

To learn more about NMDP, visit https://www.nmdp.org/