Could you tell us a little bit about your educational background?

I graduated from Eastern Kentucky University in 2017 with a BS in psychology emphasizing on brain and cognitive sciences.

What first got you interested in the healthcare field as a career choice? There are a lot of career options in the field—nursing, physician assistant, etc.—so what made you decide that genetic counseling was the right practice area/career choice for you?

In undergrad and through my volunteer work, I had developed an aptitude and passion for counseling but decided that I did not necessarily want to be a psychologist. Years later, my mother-in-law, who received a PhD in human genetics from Johns Hopkins, suggested I look into genetic counseling. I was very intrigued by genetics and saw this as an interesting and exciting new way to apply my counseling skills.

What type of obstacles have you had to overcome on the road to getting your education and in particular in pursuing your Genetic Counseling degree?

I experienced educational neglect as a child, so I only went to school until the second grade. I started working at age 15 and have been working full-time ever since, including during college. I am also a first-generation student. Growing up, I never thought a college education was something that would happen for me, so I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue my educational and professional journey here at KGI.

What are you most looking forward to about beginning your Genetic Counseling studies?

All of it! I am so excited to continue learning and growing, and I am really looking forward to meeting everyone in my cohort and working with the exceptional faculty at KGI.

What is one fun and interesting fact about you?

I have a weird obsession with hotdogs. My friends call me a “hotdog influencer” because I am always going to different restaurants and posting photos of the hotdogs I’ve eaten on Instagram. I once ate a three-pound hotdog in 14 minutes to win a t-shirt. Unfortunately, the goal was 12 minutes or less…