I'm from McAllen, Texas, a border town in the Rio Grande Valley. Here, we value culture and community- an appreciation I have worked on expanding as a student at UT Austin. At UT, I'm a Health Science Scholar studying Biology with a minor in Anthropology. Since beginning here, I have sought many opportunities to become involved in my scholar community, my honors program, and beyond. On campus, I am involved with Chi Kappa Phi Service Society, a service organization that works with various philanthropies in the Austin area. During my sophomore year, I traveled to Antigua, Guatemala on a health service trip, assisting midwives and expectant mothers in a local clinic. Through service, I have been exposed to the diversity of the human condition, leading me to better appreciate what makes us human. I am also involved with diversity and inclusion efforts within my honors program. I, along with other honors students, created the Latinx Honors Student Association which is an organization that provides a scholarly community for underrepresented honors students across campus. Overall, I am interested in understanding the intersections between health and society in order to better serve at-risk minority populations in healthcare. I am a project manager at the Gender Health Equity Lab, focusing on understanding barriers to healthcare access and developing health interventions for at-risk women of color in the Austin area. My research has revealed to me the importance of community health initiatives that are truly collaborative with the communities they serve, an understanding that I will carry with me into my future as a healthcare professional. After graduating, I plan on going to medical school to continue to work toward solving issues in healthcare that affect underserved populations and eventually return to the Rio Grande Valley to work in community health. 

Major 
Biology

Honors Program 
Health Science Honors

Other Academic Interests 
Minor in Anthropology
Healthcare and Humanities

What drew you to the Forty Acres Scholars Program (FASP)? 
I was drawn to the Forty Acres Scholars Program by its promise of community and leadership. In this program, I can work closely with people with different backgrounds, identities, and dreams to leave a positive mark on The University of Texas at Austin. Being surrounded by like-minded people and hearing their plans for their time at UT is truly inspiring. It is such a beautiful thing to know that everyone graduating as a Forty Acres Scholar will undoubtedly change the world.