Summary
Languages: Spanish and English
I was born in Mexico City (la ciudad de México), where I attended elementary school. I spent most summers in a small town in Michoacán where my grandparents lived. My family relocated to Reno when I was 10 years old. The culture shock I experienced moving from the largest city in North America, Mexico City, to the Biggest Little City in the World, Reno, was ineffable. That transition shaped many aspects of my life and education. The initial language barriers influenced and fueled my interest in math and the sciences. In high school, I had involved teachers who became lifelong mentors and fortified my interest in STEM. As an undergraduate, I found community in being part of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Program, the Center for Student Cultural Diversity, and the TRIO Scholars Program. Moreover, I became a founding member of the Iota Chapter of Sigma Omega Nu, Latina Interested Sorority – the first chapter to be established outside the state of California. SON upholds the objectives of Academics, Culture and Sisterhood.
I am the first person in my family to attend college and obtain graduate degrees. In high school, I participated in an internship through the WCSD GT Program which paired me with researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno - School of Medicine. There, my curiosity for science intensified by the mentorship of Dr. Ron Pardini. At the age of 17, I decided my academic goal would be to pursue a research-intensive doctorate. As an undergraduate, I participated in materials science and engineering research under the mentorship of Dr. Olivia Graeve. I credit much of my success and grit to Dr. Graeve’s example as a successful ingeniera e investigadora cinetífica.
Subsequently, I returned to work in Dr. Pardini’s laboratory to investigate the role of nutritional intervention in cancer therapy for my biochemistry senior thesis and biotechnology master’s project. I completed my doctoral training under the mentorship of Dr. Thomas Kidd in the biology department. I was fortunate to receive guidance from an outstanding graduate committee: Dr. Patricia Berninsone, Dr. Cherie Singer, Dr. Patricia Ellison, and Dr. Dennis Matthew. I acknowledge my mentors as I am cognizant of their vital role in earning my Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology.
My life, academic, and research experiences have reinforced my decision to pursue a career as an educator and administrator. In my former role as associate director for the McNair Scholars Program at Nevada I worked directly with graduate-bound students from diverse backgrounds. I harness the skills I developed as a researcher, along with my commitment to guide students towards the attainment of doctoral degrees. I aim to inspire the next generation of researchers and academics with the goal of diversifying higher education. ¡El querer es poder!