Class of 2025
Carolina Gomez Rodriguez (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 Pareja
Christian Pareja (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 Danen
Clarice Danen (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 Lutz
Emily Lutz (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 Lockhart
Jessica Lockhart (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 Lauro
Katie Lauro (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 Guiney
Liz Guiney (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 Olson
Malia Olson (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 Guziak
Melissa Guziak (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 Duret
Stephanie Duret (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.