- April 14, 2021

 

I graduated from ASU’s College of Health Solutions with a Masters in Exercise and Wellness in 2016 and was a graduate student under the mentorship of CHPDP Director, Dr. Shaibi. I helped lead the development and delivery of the physical activity curriculum for his Every Little Step Counts research grant. He became a mentor prior to starting the graduate program and he mentored me through my master’s thesis project titled "Effects of a Lifestyle Intervention on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in Obese Latino Youth with Pre-Diabetes."

 

I also had the opportunity to serve as the CHPDP Community Engagement Coordinator where one of the main responsibilities was to create and grow a Youth Advisory Board (YAB). The YAB was a group of talented and diverse high schools students from the Phoenix metropolitan area interested in learning more about research and science while providing input to the Center’s faculty for their research projects. We learned a lot from them, and they had the chance to learn more about college life, toured the scientific laboratories and established their own community service projects.

 

I own my own business, Living Healthy and Active LLC, which I started after my undergrad degree about 11 years ago. At first, it was one-on-one coaching to promote overall health for individuals but it has evolved over the years and now I partner with organizations of all levels to develop and deliver health education content and health promotion programs that are personalized to the environments and individuals they serve. I also serve as the Community Health & Safety Specialist in the Isaac School District here in Phoenix. My role is currently focused on COVID-19 mitigation where I support the executive team and school principals to establish mitigation procedures and perform contact tracing. In addition, I provide health education for families through the district’s social media and communication platforms to promote overall health.

 

I love research and I love science so I always aim to either partner or incorporate both of those into my work! My plans are to continue to collaborate with organizations and teams that are eager to promote better health to the people they serve.

 

Dr. Shaibi was a devoted mentor. In short, I learned from him to love the process of scientific research and the power of having the right people at the table collaborating towards a joint goal. Having Dr. Shaibi as my mentor was key to my experience and mastering the critical thinking skills needed to complete the rigor of the program. These lessons have helped me with my business and life in general. If there is one thing I would say to current students is to take advantage of making as many meaningful connections as possible.

 

I am fortunate that my passions have become my work and mission in life. I make time to spend in the gym or running, reading, cooking plant-based and gluten free meals and in playdates with my five nieces and nephews. As a hobby, I love interior design! Right now, I am helping my sister redesign the spaces in her home, which is very fun and helps bring out a bit of my creativity.