text: College of Arts & Sciences
  Major: Biochemistry • Class: 2018 • Hometown: Berwyn, Illinois
  What will you be doing at this year’s Weekend of Excellence?
  I was nominated for the Student Diversity & Multicultural Affairs Award, specifically the Social Justice in Action Award. I also will be inducted into the Maroon & Gold Society.
  How has your time at Loyola helped shape you as a person?
  Back when I was a freshman, I always noticed that the University liked to throw around the term “social justice” a lot, and I didn’t know at the time how it would impact my life. Loyola’s values helped me realize that I can use science as a tool for social justice, and I discovered how our progression as a community is rooted in solidarity. Knowledge is resistance, exposure is a necessity, and solidarity is crucial to everyone.
  What do you hope to be doing 10 years from now?
  I hope to be a biomedical researcher in a big city and be a mentor for women of color wanting to work in the STEM field. I plan to establish a nonprofit organization that would help shed light on the disparities in underrepresented communities. I’m not exactly sure what I’ll be doing, but I know that I want to give back to the community that helped shape me into who I am today.