Class of 2026
Bobby (Sumner, IL) earned a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2016 and a M.S. in Biological Sciences from Eastern Illinois University in 2020. Following his undergraduate degree, he served as a caregiver for two years with hospice patients who experienced neurological disorders. This experience led him to work in a neuroscience lab at the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, where he helped elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying nervous and immune system interactions in neurodegenerative disorders. He transitioned from the lab to a clinical setting working as a genetic counselor assistant at the Basser Center at the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Bobby has volunteered the past four years with the Williams Syndrome Association, serving as a camp counselor for kids camp and teen camp. He is looking forward to continue his advocacy work and assist communities in understanding the challenges faced by marginalized groups. In his free time, he competes as a pickleball player in tournaments nationwide and experiences the outdoors by skiing and hiking.
Corinne
Corinne (Tulsa, OK) earned her B.S. in Biology and a minor in Psychology (summa cum laude) from the University of Oklahoma in 2024. As an undergraduate, she worked as a Resident Advisor for three years, guiding first-year students through their college experience. Corinne simultaneously worked as a Student Assistant at the OU Honors College, aiding the faculty, staff, and students of the Honors College through clerical work. Outside of work, Corinne made an effort to support fellow students in a number of leadership roles on campus, including Students for Reproductive Justice, the OU Food Pantry, Withrow Leadership Scholars, and the Honors Student Diversity Council. Corinne explored different forms of advocacy through various volunteer opportunities. Her most impactful experience was volunteering on the Medical/Surgical floor at St. John Medical Center, where she witnessed the importance of mental health advocacy for healthcare providers. Inspired by her two years of American Sign Language classes, Corinne’s IRB-approved research and respective thesis focused on Deaf patient experiences in genetic counseling appointments. Corinne looks forward to exploring her interests in neurogenetics and Deaf cultural education among genetic counselors.
Emma
Emma (Conifer, CO) earned her B.S. in Health and Exercise Science with a concentration in Sports Medicine with Honors from Colorado State University. During her undergraduate time, she was a camp counselor and camp director for Camp Kesem, a summer camp for children with guardians with cancer. Emma worked as a contact tracer for COVID-19, which sparked her passion for merging public health education and counseling individuals. After undergrad she worked as Program Coordinator for the Parkinson Association of the Rockies where she focused on educational outreach, relationship between exercise and Parkinson’s research, and led support groups. She continued her education at the University of Washington, where she received her Master of Public Health Genetics, focusing her thesis on the feasibility of using patient navigation to improve the identification of inherited colorectal cancer syndromes. She completed her practicum with the Alaska Department of Health Newborn Bloodspot Screening Program where she implemented site surveys and visit protocols. Emma is excited to utilize her background in public health and passion for individual autonomy to work towards increasing accessibility to genetic counseling. Outside of academics, Emma loves to paddleboard, hike, and tuft rugs!
Genevieve
Genevieve (Salt Lake City, UT) earned her B.A. in Behavioral Neuroscience from the University of San Diego in 2021, where she was a member of the Honors Program and USD Cheer Team. As a senior, she had the opportunity to complete her honors thesis on the genetic components of Alzheimer’s disease, which was presented at USD’s 2021 Honor’s Colloquium. Following graduation, she worked as a behavioral health technician for children with developmental disabilities, which sparked her interest in pediatric neurogenetics and rare disease research. She also volunteered with Crisis Text Line as a crisis counselor. For the past two years, she has worked as a clinical research coordinator at the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus, where she coordinated research studies and clinical trials in the department of pediatric surgery. She also had the opportunity to independently investigate several research topics relating to trauma and burn surgery, which she presented at several national conferences. In her free time, Genevieve enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors. She has a strong interest in pediatric neurogenetics, and she is excited to learn more about the role of genetic counselors in a multidisciplinary clinic setting.
Jacqueline
Jacqueline (Chicago, IL) earned her B.S. in Biology with a molecular emphasis and minors in bioethics and psychology from Loyola University Chicago in 2024 (magna cum laude). As an undergraduate, she worked on analyzing polygenic risk scores for obesity and their application to the genetic counseling field in a quantitative genetics lab. She also completed a bioethics capstone on the ethical considerations of genome editing. Jacqueline develops her passion for alleviating language barriers by volunteering with CommunityHealth in Chicago, through which she virtually medically interprets between physicians and patients across the United States. She also volunteers as a teaching assistant and substitute teacher for elementary grades at the Tadeusz Kosciuszko School of Polish Language in Chicago, of which she is an alumna. This experience allowed her to develop teaching expertise and cultivate the skills of supporting the academic needs of students with diverse learning styles. Jacqueline keeps her Polish roots close by Polish folk dancing and recently training as a choreographer after dancing for 16 years. She enjoys biking and visiting state parks. In the future, she is excited to merge her enthusiasm for genetics and connecting with others to make a meaningful contribution to the genetic counseling field.
Jaicee
Jaicee (Sun River, MT) earned her B.S. in Biomedical Science and a minor in History (summa cum laude) from Union College in Lincoln, NE on a full tuition academic scholarship. As an undergraduate, Jaicee tutored for a variety of science courses, including Anatomy and Physiology, Microbiology, and General Chemistry. She also worked as an Organic Chemistry TA, a faculty assistant in the English department, and assisted with Biochemistry lab prep. Jaicee had the opportunity to assist in a research project examining differential gene expression following a pesticide treatment on corn and soy. During summers, she worked on her family’s ranch, operating a swather and combine. Following graduation, Jaicee worked as a Therapeutic Youth Mentor, supporting youth with mental health diagnoses through one-on-one visits in the community. She also worked as an elementary substitute teacher and found she loved supporting in the self-contained resource classrooms. Jaicee enjoyed volunteering for Eagle Mount’s adaptive snow sports program, sharing her love of skiing with kids who may not have otherwise been able to participate in the sport. She hopes to help increase access to genetic counseling, especially in rural communities.
Kalynn
Kalynn (Iowa City, IA) earned her B.S. in Biology on the Genetics and Biotechnology Track from the University of Iowa in 2023. For her first two and a half years as an undergraduate student, Kalynn was involved in genetic research investigating the gene trpm7 in the survival and pigmentation of melanocytes and was awarded the opportunity to present her project at a national conference. After learning about the field of genetic counseling, Kalynn pursued a position as a genetic counseling assistant in the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Volunteering as a student Ambassador for the Department of Biology, Kalynn was also engaged in promoting awareness about the field of genetic counseling to incoming students, offering guidance and resources to aspiring professionals in the field. Following her graduation, Kalynn relocated to Salt Lake City to work as a genetic counseling assistant at Primary Children’s Hospital. Specializing primarily in neurology while also contributing to various other specialties and clinics within the hospital, Kalynn discovered her passion for pediatric genetics. She looks forward to contributing to accessibility of genetic testing and counseling for children and their families.
Natalie
Natalie (Dearborn, MI) earned her B.A in biochemistry from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. During her time at DePauw, she was a Science Research Fellow, and worked as a Research Assistant in two labs, involving projects on the structural integrity of metal organic frameworks and the classification of missense variants of LDHA. Natalie was also a First Year Mentor, working directly with incoming freshmen to help them find connection and community on campus. During an internship at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), she discovered a passion for pediatric care and health equity while working with sickle cell anemia patients. After graduation, she returned to CHOP to work as a GCA in pediatric leukodystrophy, working with families from all over the world seeking specialized neurological care. She then worked as a GCA for the Cancer Risk Evaluation Program at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. Natalie discovered genetic counseling through a personal diagnosis, and her goal is to provide the same standard of care to others that she received as a patient. During her time at University of Utah, she looks forward to experiencing a range of specialties within genetic counseling and ultimately seeks to be a patient-centered provider, working with pediatric and young adult oncology patients.
Rebekah
Rebekah (Pocatello, ID) earned her B.S. in Secondary Education of Natural Sciences from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and her M.A. in Physics Education from Western Governors University. As an undergrad, she worked an internship with Idaho National Laboratories (INL), then as a volunteer in a parasitology laboratory, and finally as a research assistant studying the efficacy of teacher training models – following her passion for all things science. After graduation, Rebekah became a secondary science teacher, guiding students through biology, astronomy, physics, and chemistry classes. She demonstrated a strong commitment to education by developing comprehensive and state-accessible curricular materials, alongside a team of teachers. Additionally, she displayed a desire to positively impact public education by taking on roles such as a teacher lead at professional development workshops, mentor teacher, clubs advisor, and chair of the physics department. Rebekah now volunteers at St Mark’s Hospital with the Cancer Services Program and works as a GCA for St. Mark’s, Timpanogos Regional, and Ogden Regional Medical Centers for their Cancer Genetics programs. She is excited to dive into the field of genetic counseling and continue to pursue her twin passions: science and helping others.
Shivani
Shivani (Gilroy, CA) earned her B.S. in Genetics & Genomics and a Minor in Psychology from the University of California, Davis in 2022. As an undergraduate student, she was involved in the Genetic Counseling Club. As the President, her goal was to maintain a community for students to seek their interest in Genetic Counseling. Shivani was also a Student Research Assistant at Sudarshana Lab, which focused on plant pathology. During her time, she assisted in running a variety of assays for Grapevine Red Blotch Virus and she collaborated on a project to standardize on-site detection using tHDA assay. Senior year, Shivani was trained to volunteer for Crisis Text Line to be a resource for individuals. Since graduation, she has worked at Golden Vision as an Optometric Technician where she assisted patients in their appointments and was trained for Dry Eye Treatments. Shivani enjoys volunteering for her community, so she volunteered at FORCE as a Patient Advocate Leader where she talks with local lawmakers about hereditary cancer. Shivani is looking forward to working with patients in a clinical setting in Ophthalmology and she hopes to work towards bringing awareness to other providers and patients about the role of genetic counselors.
Class of 2025
Carolina
Carolina (Richmond, VA) earned her B.S in Biology with an emphasis in cellular science from Old Dominion University in Virginia. She volunteered as a research laboratory assistant for two graduate research projects. She assisted with the study of honeybee visitation rates on varying degrees of ulraviolet flora, and she aided in the study of the effects of stressors on the symbiotic relationship of coral and zooxanthellae. Carolina was a student senator in the Student Government Association where she represented and advocated for five thousand students. She was a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the Public Affairs and Recruitment Committee. After graduation, Carolina worked at Virginia League for Planned Parenthood where she received crisis counseling training and trauma informed care training. Later, she worked at a private obstetrics and gynecology practice where she partnered with laboratory genetic counselors from Myriad Genetics and Natera, and prenatal genetic counselors in Maternal Fetal Medicine. This firsthand experience shaped her interest in prenatal and pediatric genetic counseling; therefore, Carolina is looking forward to combining her passion for genetic anomalies with emerging families and young children.
Christian
Christian (Des Plaines, IL) earned his B.S. in Biology and minors in Neuroscience and Psychology from Butler University in 2022. As an undergraduate, he worked as a teacher-therapist intern at Englishton Park Summer Camp where he worked with children with developmental and behavioral disabilities. Christian received direct genetic counseling exposure as a student intern for Advocate Genetics and as a genomic correspondence intern with Clover Genetics. He served as the philanthropy chairman of the Epsilon Mu chapter of Sigma Nu, coordinating philanthropic efforts for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Habitat for Humanity, and Campaign Zero. Upon graduation, he returned to Chicago to work as a Genetic Counseling Assistant for Reproductive Genetic Innovations where he was responsible for the case-coordination of patients undergoing preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy, monogenic disorders, and structural rearrangements. In his free time, he enjoys spending time outdoors, especially climbing, hiking, and camping. Christian looks forward to cultivating his passion for genetics and health care as a genetic counselor while working to increase the accessibility of genetic testing and championing the reproductive rights of his patients.
Clarice
Clarice (Milwaukee, WI) earned her B.S. in Genetics & Genomics, and German from the University of Wisconsin- Madison in 2021, with an honors in research distinction. As an undergraduate, she worked as a research assistant studying hybrid breakdown in male reproduction between recently diverged Drosophila melanogaster and completed her thesis on a similar topic, exploring how hybrid breakdown can result in incompatibilities leading to sterility. Clarice also worked as a teaching assistant for the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences- QuickStart Program for incoming college freshmen. Clarice volunteered as a family interaction specialist with the Canopy Center; a non-profit organization that works with children who have been removed from their homes due to child abuse and/or neglect. After graduation, she continued her volunteer work with the Canopy Center as well as taking on another volunteer role as a crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line. After graduation, Clarice began working as a laboratory genetic counseling assistant at Prevention Genetics. Clarice is highly interested in pediatric genetics and epigenetics and is passionate about raising awareness around genetic counseling and making genetic testing more accessible in healthcare.
Emily
Emily (Salt Lake City, UT) earned her B.S. in Cell and Developmental Biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2019. During her time as an undergraduate student, she worked as a Resident Assistant for two years and held an internship in both a Marine Biology and Ecology lab. Following graduation, Emily moved to Salt Lake City to work at ARUP Laboratories as a Medical Laboratory Technologist. She earned her Chemistry Categorical Certification from the American Society of Clinical Pathologists while employed in the Clinical Toxicology Department focused on drugs of abuse and pain management. It was through her work at ARUP Laboratories that she first learned of Genetic Counseling. Emily also had the opportunity to volunteer as a Victim Advocate at a local domestic violence shelter, South Valley Services, where she learned to assist members of the community undergoing dramatic life changes and hardships. Emily was honored to have serve as Healthy Equity Co-Chair for the American Cancer Society event, Colors of Cancer, in 2022 and 2023. This event was the centerpiece of the Allied Initiative which focused on addressing disparities in cancer prevention, diagnosis, prognosis, and outcomes for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Emily is excited to expand her counseling skills and to interact directly with patients in the clinical setting. She hopes to continue to call Salt Lake City her home.
Jessica
Jessica (Fayetteville, NC) earned her B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science from Brigham Young University, Provo in 2019. During her undergraduate, she found a love for Entomology where she worked as a research assistant in two different labs researching tiger moth larvae diets and the effects of introducing honeybees on the native bumblebee populations. She also had the wonderful opportunities to work as a teaching assistant for biology and chemistry courses. She has worked in Salt Lake City for the past 4 years as a Medical Laboratory Scientist in pediatric transfusion and in chemistry testing/research development for preterm births. She also fueled her passion for teaching by working as Adjunct Teaching Faculty for the Medical Laboratory Science program at BYU. Jessica has been volunteering at the Utah Aids Foundation and at the Salt Lake Rape Recovery Center as a Mobile Response Advocate, where she was able to become a certified crisis counselor through the Utah Coalition Against Sexual Assault. She has loved learning about people’s diverse backgrounds and unique experiences. She has especially loved advocating for those whose voices are often not heard, which is what drew her towards the Genetic Counseling field. Jessica is hopeful to make genetic testing a more affordable and routine part of healthcare and hopes to work together with the community to provide more resources for those who have genetic conditions.
Katie
Katie (Los Angeles, CA) earned her B.S. in Human Biology with minors in Bioethics and Women and Gender Studies from Michigan State University (MSU) in 2021. While at MSU, she completed a capstone project on the barriers patients face accessing cancer-related genetic testing and counseling services. Katie also conducted research in a genetic engineering lab, where she studied the use of extracellular vesicles in gene therapy techniques for cancer and type 1 diabetes. During her undergraduate career, Katie served as president of the MSU Human Biology Club, volunteered at Sparrow Hospital, and supported persons in crisis as a resident assistant and text line counselor. She developed her interest in disability-based advocacy by volunteering for the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities at MSU, tutoring for children with disabilities, and volunteering at a therapeutic horseback riding center. After graduation, Katie began working at Genome Medical as a genetic counseling assistant, where she wrote genetic counseling appointment reports and handled communications with patients, healthcare systems, and laboratories across the country. Katie hopes to continue the work of her capstone project in her future career by contributing to an increase in the accessibility and equitability of genetic counseling services.
Liz
Liz (Park City, UT) earned her B.S. in Genetics and minors in Anthropology and Spanish from the University of New Hampshire (summa cum laude, 2013). As an undergraduate, she competed for UNH’s Division I Nordic ski team and served as a captain in her junior and senior years. In 2013, she was awarded the Elite 89 award, for the highest-achieving student-athlete at NCAA Championships. After graduation, Liz pursued a professional Nordic ski racing career, representing the US at nine World Cup competitions. While racing, Liz coached participants of all ages in skiing and biking and volunteered with several organizations working to improve access to sports for underrepresented individuals. Liz moved on from ski racing in 2020 and has since worked for two years as a genetic counseling assistant at Igenomix, a preimplantation genetic testing laboratory. She has volunteered for IMAlive, as an online crisis counselor, and with the National Ability Center, helping with outdoor recreation programs for individuals with disabilities. Liz is excited to work in a clinical setting and is passionate about expanding access to genetic testing and counseling services. She loves the outdoors, and when not working or studying, can be found running, biking, or skiing.
Malia
Malia (Crested Butte, CO) earned her B.A. in Biology and minor in Psychology (summa cum laude) from Regis University. She attended Regis on a full-tuition leadership scholarship and wrote her honors thesis on how beliefs about masculinity can contribute to men’s reluctance to seek healthcare. While at Regis, she worked for Regis’ Victim Advocacy and Violence Prevention to prevent sexual assault, relationship violence, and stalking. She was elected Student Body President and held a position within the Women’s and Gender Studies department to develop and deliver introductory trainings on gender and sexuality. Malia was involved in two genetic research labs at Regis studying nematode development and factors involved in activating transcription of noncoding RNAs. She also spent summers at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory with the University of South Carolina studying butterflies. Following graduation, Malia worked as a Clinical Laboratory Processing Technician at National Jewish Health, a respiratory hospital that offers treatment and research for pulmonary, cardiac, and immune conditions. She worked as a genetic counseling assistant and intern for two cancer genetic counseling clinics. She is passionate about expanding access to genetic counseling in rural communities and investigating how gender norms can act as barriers to care.
Melissa
Melissa (Salt Lake City, UT) earned a B.A. in Biology from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2014 and M. Ed. from Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2019. In her graduate program she studied prevention science and practice in adolescent education. Her education led her to work in various community settings with adolescents. She worked for five years as a wilderness therapy field guide with teenagers, backpacking and camping in eastern Utah while teaching social emotional coping skills. She transitioned to the field of genetics after exploring alternative roles for counselors in community settings. Melissa has worked as a Genetic Counseling Assistant at Huntsman Cancer Institute since 2022. She volunteers with the National Ability Center, Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, and Guadalupe School. She enjoys finding challenges and creating community in the outdoors; biking, hiking, and skiing around the state. She has completed three major thru-hikes across the US, backpacking over 7000 miles in 4-5 month stretches. Melissa is looking forward to learning more about the role of genetic counseling in rural healthcare and small community settings in the Mountain West region.
Stephanie
Stephanie (San Francisco, CA) earned her BS in Biological Sciences and minors in Spanish and Latin American Studies from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2019. As an undergraduate, she held various positions that explored her passion for teaching, including volunteering as a teacher’s assistant in a Spanish dual-immersion classroom and working as a STEM educator for Bright Futures, a YMCA after-school program. She also volunteered as a crisis counselor and advocate for legal clients at Stand Strong, an organization supporting community members experiencing intimate partner violence. After graduation, Stephanie furthered her advocacy experience by volunteering as a telephone counselor at Safe & Sound with the goal of improving the well-being of children and caregivers through education and advocacy. She also held an internship at Roche Molecular Systems, where she supported a team of life science communications professionals focusing on diagnostic solutions in the areas of women’s health, infectious diseases, and oncology. She then worked as a clinical research coordinator at the UCSF Department of Ophthalmology, where she coordinated research studies and clinical trials focusing on inherited retinal degenerations and the use of adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy to characterize disease progression. Stephanie is looking forward to learning more about the role of genetic counselors in multidisciplinary clinics and in the public health sector.