Josie is from Irwin, Pennsylvania. She graduated from The University of Pittsburgh in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences and a minor in chemistry. Throughout her undergraduate career, she worked as an undergraduate teaching assistant while volunteering at the Cytogenetics Laboratory and Genetics Department at Magee-Womens Hospital. The summer before her senior year, she interned at the Medical Genetics Department at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh as she worked closely with genetic counselors. Also, she gained advocacy experience from an organization called Homeless Children’s Education Fund, where they provide after school tutoring and support for children who are facing homeless situations in the Pittsburgh area. In her free time, Josie loves to tap dance, read, and spend time with her family and friends.

Bri is from Fort Washington, Pennsylvania. She graduated in 2019 from Bucknell University with a Bachelor of Science in biomedical engineering. During her time as an undergrad, she worked as a medical physics research intern at the University of Pennsylvania and a genetic counseling research intern at Gesiginer’s Autism and Developmental Institute, where she investigated the role of clinical genetic counselors in variant interpretation and designed patient education sheets. In her free time, Bri loved working as “Pledge Mom” of her school’s service fraternity, facilitating conversations on diversity with the Bucknell’s Common Ground organization and volunteering as a Crisis Counselor for Crisis Text Line. She enjoys dancing, yoga, and spending time with her dog Waffles, family and friends.

Shannon was born and raised in Cleveland where her love for the field was first sparked in her 9th grade biology class. She graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in molecular genetics and a double minor in sexuality studies and biological basis of behavior. During her undergraduate career, Shannon worked as a research intern in a laboratory involved with cystic fibrosis research at Case Western Reserve University and served as a student research assistant to a genetic counselor at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Division of Human Genetics. In addition, she volunteered on the Crisis Text Line and as a wellness coach through The Ohio State University's Student Wellness Center. In her free time, Shannon loves to dance, travel, eat yummy food and hike!

Maysen is from Dublin, Ohio and graduated from The Ohio State University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in molecular genetics. During her undergraduate career, Maysen served as the vice president of the Molecular Genetics Club and as a volunteer at Riverside Methodist Hospital. Before entering graduate school, Maysen gained advocacy experience through volunteering at the Suicide Prevention Hotline and the Huckleberry House, a youth crisis shelter in Columbus. Additionally, she worked as a genetic counseling assistant for OhioHealth Maternal Fetal Medicine. In her free time, Maysen enjoys taking ballet, hot yoga, and Orangetheory Fitness classes. She also attends sporting events in Columbus and enjoys supporting the Blue Jackets, Clippers, and her beloved Buckeyes.

Carson hails from Los Gatos, California and migrated to the midwest to study biology at Indiana University. While at IU, she competed on the Division I Women's water polo team and volunteered at The Middle Way House, a sexual assault and domestic violence crisis-line and shelter for women. Following graduation, Carson took a position as a research technologist with Northwestern University's Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, where she studied the effects of targeted therapeutics on epigenetic modifications in adult and pediatric leukemia. During this time, Carson gained further advocacy experience by spending time with residents at Misericordia, a Chicago home for adults with developmental and physical disabilities. In her free time, Carson enjoys hiking, going to comedy shows, and trying to keep her indoor plants alive!

Elyse was born in the Cleveland area and is leaving for the first time to attend The Ohio State University in 2019. With a Bachelor of Science in biomedical (tissue) engineering from the University of Akron, Elyse had the opportunity to conduct and display research in myocardial regeneration. When not in the lab, she acted as a client advocate at Akron Pregnancy Center, a peer counselor for Crisis Text Line, an academic tutor, and a patient liaison at psychologist and doctor’s offices. Elyse was also blessed to explore genetic counseling further by performing as a genetic counseling assistant for Akron Children’s Hospital and is thrilled to take this next step to becoming a genetic counselor. In her spare time, she likes to read anything and everything, dance, try new things, and play with her pet bird, Flynn.

A Buckeye since birth, Taylor was born and raised in Dublin, Ohio. She attended The Ohio State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biological engineering in May of 2019. During her undergrad, she volunteered with the Down Syndrome Associate of Central Ohio, was a member of the Undergraduate Genetic Counseling Club and worked as a student research assistant in the Department of Radiology. Her passion for genetic counseling stems from witnessing a family member undergo testing after a breast cancer diagnosis, as well as shadowing other cancer genetic counselors in Columbus. In her free time, she loves to paint, ski, cook and explore the city. A fun fact about Taylor is she just visited one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Grand Canyon, and hopes to see them all someday!

Kalyn grew up in Wausau, Wisconsin, and graduated from Carroll University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in biology. During her undergraduate career, she researched effective methods of removing buckthorn, an invasive plant species, from native plant communities. She presented her findings at the Wisconsin Wetland Association Annual Conference. ln 2014, Kalyn graduated from Colorado State University with a Master of Science in student affairs in higher education. Afterward, she worked professionally in education, including as an interpersonal violence victim advocate and special education aide supporting students with autism. Kalyn enjoys reading, hiking, biking, camping, cooking and snuggling her adorable dog Matilda.

Simone is from Northport, Long Island, and had never been to the Midwest before! She graduated from the State University of New York at Geneseo in 2017 where she studied biology. Throughout her undergraduate career she worked in environmental and genetic laboratories on campus which gave her great insight into research. She was also in a sorority and served as the director of recruitment for her national PanHellenic council at SUNY Geneseo. Upon graduating Simone returned to Long Island to work at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. As a research technician she developed novel methods of sequencing for early cancer detection and quantitative RNA sequencing. During her two years at CSHL Simone has volunteered with Crisis Text Line as a crisis counselor and shadowed genetic counselors on Long Island, as well as participating in WiSE events. In her free time Simone enjoys hiking, cooking and traveling. She discovered the field of genetic counseling while abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark!

Rachel was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio. She graduated in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in psychology from Notre Dame College. During her undergraduate career, she competed on the college’s women's golf team, conducted research in the Drosophila melanogaster lab examining endoreplication within the ovarian follicle cells, and worked as a biology tutor and teaching assistant. After graduation, she volunteered as a genetic counseling assistant at Akron Children’s Hospital where she researched insurance coverage for genetic testing and maternal PKU education. She also worked for Daybreak Youth Crisis Center as a youth care worker in her hometown and volunteered for Crisis Text Line. In addition, she also volunteered at Flying Horse Farms, a summer camp for children with serious illnesses. Rachel enjoys yoga, cooking, and playing in golf outings with her family.

Cara was born and raised in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago. She graduated from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in biology and a minor in anthropology. During her time at Centre, she worked under Dr. Mark Galatowitsch studying freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity. In addition, for a year and a half she served as a crisis line counselor and medical advocate for Ampersand Sexual Violence Resource Center. An avid equestrian, during her free time you will find Cara riding her horse, running, sleeping or visiting a local craft brewery!

Samantha was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Kent State University. During her undergraduate studies, Samantha worked as a research assistant in a health psychology lab studying risk perceptions and risk communication. In addition to her research experience, Samantha volunteered as an advocate for victims of crime through Townhall II, a local organization specializing in crisis intervention. Samantha’s passion for genetic counseling stems from prenatal shadowing experiences she gained at the Carolina Medical Center Women’s Institute in Charlotte. Her love for the field continued to grow after she completed an internship in genetic counseling with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Samantha loves baking, singing, painting and, most of all, coffee.

Kelly is from Grand Rapids, Michigan. She graduated from Calvin College in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. She has gained advocacy experience through volunteering with children at Safe Haven, a service for those affected by domestic abuse. She has been fortunate enough to be a cancer genetic counseling assistant in the year before entering graduate school. In her free time, she enjoys going to Barre classes, baking and exploring new restaurants.

Ellen hails from Gaithersburg, Maryland, where she grew up and worked for the past year at GeneDx as a GCA. Ellen graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2017 and enjoys cooking and eating new food, hiking or biking the outdoors and participating in the arts, such as drawing, painting, listening to live music and (one day) stand-up comedy. Ellen has a strong background in IDD advocacy and hopes to further public knowledge and acceptance of the capabilities of adults and kids with autism.

Victoria was born and raised in Cincinnati. She graduated from The Ohio State University in 2018 where she received her bachelor’s degree in neuroscience with a specialization in biological systems and behavioral neuroscience. During her undergraduate career, Victoria was secretary of the Undergraduate Genetics Counseling Club, a swim coach and volunteer for the Ohio Special Olympics and a Crisis Center volunteer for Franklin County Children’s Services. Victoria gained exposure to genetic counseling through working as a student research assistant in The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Division of Human Genetics exploring the genetic mutations driving metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma and managing patients’ pedigrees and medical records. Victoria loves swimming, wakeboarding, cooking, and is so excited to be a Buckeye for two more years!

Leah was born and raised in North Ridgeville, Ohio, a suburb west of Cleveland. She fell in love with Ohio State at a young age and graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience in December of 2017. While an undergraduate, she led a service trip to Boston to work with the homeless community, was a member of Ohio State’s Undergraduate Genetic Counseling Club, played intramural sports and worked as a nanny. Leah’s interest in genetic counseling began in high school and fueled her desire to shadow genetic counselors in Cincinnati and Columbus. Leah acquired advocacy experience through Crisis Text Line where she volunteers as a trained crisis counselor.

Rachel is from Exton, Pennsylvania. She graduated magna cum laude from Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania in 2016 where she earned her Bachelor of Science in biology and psychology. During her time there, Rachel completed research in stream and disease ecology, specifically exploring the interaction between sex and aggression in parasite-infected salamanders. She also served as vice president of philanthropy for her sorority and had the opportunity to work with the local women's shelter in fundraising and service. After graduation, Rachel worked for Holy Family Institute as a family and child worker with high-risk behavior youth in Pittsburgh. In her free time, Rachel loves DIY projects, traveling, and strategic board games.

Madison was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. She graduated from St. Lawrence University in upstate New York in the spring of 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience and a minor in creative writing. Throughout her undergraduate career, she played volleyball for her university for all four years while volunteering at the local Canton-Potsdam Hospital. She interned during the summer before her senior year with an oncology genetic counselor at Scripps Green Hospital in La Jolla, California. She gained advocacy experience by being a part of SLU Advocates, the student-run sexual crisis hotline program at her university. In her free time, Madison loves to travel to new places and write about her adventures.

Born and raised a Buckeye, Lara grew up in Upper Arlington, Ohio. After some time on the east and west coast in undergraduate and graduate school she returned to Ohio, this time to Cleveland to do a PhD in genetic and molecular epidemiology at Case Western Reserve University. An associate professor and translational scientist at The Ohio State University her research is focused on leveraging common and rare genetic variation to find better donor matches for patients receiving blood and marrow transplants as curative therapy for leukemia. She is excited to begin this new chapter in her scientific career, leveraging her research skills and genomic understanding in a way that directly benefits individual patients. Check out her lab.

Leah was raised a Spartan in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She graduated from Michigan State University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science in genomics and molecular genetics. During undergrad she worked as a research assistant in a psychology and epidemiology lab studying child development. She was also able to spend a summer during my undergrad at Van Andel Institute studying Alzheimer's disease. After graduation she worked as a clinical language and reporting technician for a genetic carrier screening company, NxGen MDx. While working, she was able to gain advocacy experience at Ele's Place, a center for grieving children. To take a break from science during undergrad she worked as a Wings Team member for Red Bull!