The UW Genetic Counseling Graduate Program (GCGP) is thrilled to announce that Juliet Torres is a recipient of the 2021-2022 Latinx Scholars Graduate School Fellowship (LSGSF).
“Juliet is already preparing to be a mighty influencer in the field of genetic counseling,” says Robin Bennett, UW GCGP program director. “Her forte is leadership and mentorship in Latinx and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities, with a focus on access to health care.”
A first-generation college student, Juliet graduated from Grinnell College in Iowa with a bachelor’s in biology. There, she was awarded the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, an athletic scholarship to play soccer, and the prestigious John Pfitsch Endowed Memorial Prize.
"I am extremely honored to receive [the LSGSF] based upon my commitment to Latinx communities,” says Juliet. “I believe that a responsibility of achieving higher education is to better the livelihoods and health of systemically underserved communities. There is much discrimination, racism, and purposeful lack of resources amongst Latinx communities; I intend to use my graduate education to combat these unjust circumstances. I hope to bring awareness to the dire need of recruiting and increasing diversity in the genetic counseling profession.”
She continues, “For future Latinx applicants to the UW GCGP, I want you to know this space is for you, and your voice is valued here; program leadership, professors, supervisors, staff, and the DARE committee are committed to YOU."
Students interested in applying for the scholarship can find more information here. For more information about contributing to the LSGSF fund to support future Latinx graduate students at the UW, contact the Office of Graduate Student Equity & Excellence (GSEE) at uwgsee@uw.edu.