Husky 100

As a first generation college student and parent of two I hope to inspire others to know it’s never too late to return to school and accomplish what may seem impossible. The Husky experience taught me to leverage the many opportunities on campus which in turn helped me find support at UW through my department, research lab and student organizations. As I grew into leadership roles, I’ve discovered my passion for helping other underrepresented students in STEM find the support and resources to succeed.

My time at UW has been filled with opportunities to connect with others, learn from new experiences, and broaden my perspective. These opportunities have allowed me to see healthcare through different lenses: innovation in bioengineering, the social determinants of health in bioethics, and the need for expanding healthcare access through policymaking and outreach. I look forward to continuing my work at these intersections to make healthcare more equitable and to supporting others in my journey.

During my time at the UW, I have been able to thrive as an engineer and gain hands-on knowledge outside the classroom, which will serve me in pushing the human boundaries of space exploration. I serve as the Chief Engineer for the Society for Advanced Rocket Propulsion (SARP), and I use my experiences to mentor other students and participate in local STEM outreach. The UW has empowered me to reach beyond aerospace and also pursue my passions for environmental studies and playing the cello.

Through research and community engagement, I have been afforded by the UW the opportunity to see the intersections of technology and humanity. This opportunity has allowed me to continue to authentically support diverse and marginalized populations. At the UW, I have discovered ways to center humanity and foster sustainability and equity in all of my fields of interest, which informs the kind of leader I hope to become in my local community and in biomedicine.

From optimizing cell isolation technology for better cancer immunotherapies to working alongside the UW kidney transplant team to reimagining STEM outreach for a virtual world, my diverse experiences at UW shape my professional, personal, and intellectual identities as a scientist, leader, mentor, advocate, and interdisciplinary learner. I strive to apply my unique perspectives at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and social justice to promote accessible and inclusive science.

The UW has provided me the opportunity to understand my family’s health complications through drug delivery research. I learned how to harness moments of sacrifice, whether with my martial arts career or in-person protesting, and foster growth in science and diversity on campus. The lens I have developed as a Husky has shown me that being relentless in my scientific and mentoring pursuits will allow me to seize my future with grace and become a leader in my research and minority communities.