国产哟哟

Kristin grew up in a small city outside of Greensboro called Burlington, North Carolina. She attended North Carolina State University and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in genetics and a minor in anthropology in 2021. As an undergrad, she was a teaching assistant for an introductory genetics class and discovered her passion for teaching others. She also volunteered with the campus Women’s Center as a Movement Peer Educator, a group that advocates for interpersonal violence and sexual assault awareness and prevention. Kristin took a gap year after graduating and now works as a teaching assistant at a daycare where she works with children who are disabled, have histories of trauma, and/or come from difficult family situations. She has formed strong bonds with children in every classroom she has worked in and has enjoyed watching them grow and learn. Walking down the hallway and hearing an excited “Ms. Kristin!” from the kids never fails to make her day. 

Kristin has been interested in genetic counseling since her junior year of high school. She fell in love with genetics during AP biology and sought a career where she could interact with individuals on a daily basis. After shadowing multiple genetic counselors, she discovered a new love and respect for the field of genetic counseling as she admires the patient-centered care that is at the forefront of each session. She is excited to pursue her Master’s Degree in Genetic Counseling at 国产哟哟 and grow her knowledge and passion for this career.

Kristin still resides in Burlington, where she spends time with her large family, pets, and significant other. In her free time, she enjoys crocheting, cross-stitching, and taking care of her house plants. She also began weightlifting in 2022 and has enjoyed challenging herself and growing stronger over the past year!

As a military brat, Staci spent much of her childhood moving around but considers Cottonwood, Arizona, her hometown. She attended Arizona State University and received a BA in Secondary Education—Chemistry. During her undergraduate years, she volunteered with Camp Kesem—a summer camp for children of cancer victims. She also worked as a tutor for refugees at a community college, where she gained a passion for education. 

After graduating from Arizona State, Staci moved to San Antonio, Texas, where she taught middle and high school chemistry for eight years. Her experience in science education has equipped her with the skills to communicate complex information in a clear and concise manner, and she believes it will be invaluable in her future work as a genetic counselor. During her time as a teacher, Staci had a personal experience with infant loss, which proved to be a pivotal moment in her life. This experience inspired her to pursue a career in genetic counseling.

Now residing in Reno, Nevada, with her husband and two children, Staci is dedicated to helping families navigate the complexities of genetic conditions. She is passionate about using her knowledge and experience to provide support and resources to those facing similar challenges.

In her free time, Staci enjoys hiking, running, traveling, rewatching The Office, baking chocolate chip cookies, and playing with her kids.

Kennedy Cunliffe-Storey was born and raised in Ogden, Utah. After graduating high school, she went to Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt) in Arcata, California, graduating summa cum laude with a B.S. in Cellular/Molecular Biology. During her college years, she first studied genetics during the genetics course and lab. She continued genetics studies by doing undergraduate research using CRISPR.

After graduating, Kennedy received a CIRM (California Institute of Regenerative Medicine) internship in a lab at Stanford University. She primarily studied increasing the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells by adding different genetic components to the CAR T cells. With the onset of COVID in 2020, she moved back home to Utah. She worked as a Lab Specialist at the University of Utah, studying the effects of renal dendritic cells in salt-sensitive hypertension. She later took a position in the research and development department at Fresenius Medical Care. 

She volunteers with the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition Linkline, taking phone calls from anyone looking for help regarding domestic violence.  Kennedy previously worked with children as a daycare provider. She also gave back to her community by volunteering at the local food bank to organize food and help the shoppers in the summer.

In her free time, Kennedy likes to spend time with her husband and family at the sand dunes or camping in the mountains. She is an avid reader, a proud chicken mom, and an exercise enthusiast. She loves cuddles from her dog and cat, Butturs and Milo. Kennedy is so excited for this next phase in her life and career and is honored to be part of 国产哟哟!

Nicole (Nicky) Daley grew up in Granite Bay, California. While studying Animal Biology at the University of California, Davis, Nicky was a laboratory assistant at the MRLT Vision Sciences lab. This lab has many projects around the genetic component of ocular disorders and supported Nicky while she conducted her own research project investigating the morphological features involved in the pathogenesis of a genetic condition known as Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma (PACG). Her work was then incorporated into a larger study seeking to identify genetic loci associated with PACG. Nicky was introduced to the field of genetic counseling when her aunt was diagnosed with Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, prompting her aunt and mother to be referred to a genetic counselor. After learning more about the field, she knew she wanted to pursue a career in genetic counseling. 

After graduating from UC Davis with honors, Nicky began working as a genetic counseling assistant at the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. During this time, she volunteered as a soccer and swim coach for the Special Olympics and continued to volunteer as a crisis counselor with the Crisis Text Line. With this foundation in genetics and patient advocacy, Nicky is excited to begin working toward a master’s degree in Genetic Counseling at 国产哟哟.

In her free time, Nicky loves spending time with family and taking her Golden Retriever on doggie dates. With her history as a competitive swimmer and water polo player, Nicky also enjoys training in the gym and being active. 

Sam Esterly grew up in the shade of the windy city, a suburb of Chicago: Elgin, Illinois. A love of science ever present, biology became his main focus following an AP Biology class at his high school, Burlington Central. Particularly, the genetics unit hooked him from the word “AUG.” Sam ended up attending college at Illinois State University, where he kept busy with a myriad of activities, including strongman/powerlifting, undergraduate research, and his ultimate goal of getting into medical school. 

The bittersweet slowdown provided by the Covid-19 pandemic granted Sam much time to reflect on his journey, ultimately culminating in the decision not to pursue medical school. To Sam's surprise, one gap year later, he discovered a career that truly aligned with his vision: genetic counseling. From that point forward, it was a sprint to immerse himself in the field as much as possible. Through countless phone interviews, two internships, and endless research, two things were evident to him the entire time. One, this is exactly where he belonged. Two, the genetic counseling community is saturated with the kindest and most welcoming individuals he’d ever met. The choice to pursue entry into a master’s program was a no-brainer for him.

Thrilled and grateful beyond literal belief to have made it into 国产哟哟’s program, Sam is chomping at the bit to come out the other side and begin an incredibly rewarding career as a genetic counselor. He knows he’ll cherish the arduous journey ahead and finds strength in knowing that the rest of the class of 2025 is right there alongside him.

Siobhan Ferrall was born and raised in Goodyear, Arizona. She attended Arizona State University and graduated in 2023 with a B.S. in Forensic Science and a minor in Environmental Science. During her time at ASU, Siobhan worked as a teaching assistant for an introductory environmental science course. She also worked in a genetics lab at ASU, where she investigated new genes in Drosophila pseudoobscura. This project was in conjunction with researchers at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil. 

Siobhan was introduced to the field of genetic counseling after her sophomore year of college. She was immediately drawn to the unique combination of genetics and patient-focused care. She began working as a genetic counseling assistant at GeneXsure, a cancer consultancy that provides telehealth genetic counseling services to individuals in rural communities. Siobhan is passionate about hereditary cancer and currently works in the Quality department at Reference Medicine, a Phoenix-based oncology startup. 

In her free time, Siobhan enjoys spending time with her partner, cooking, and playing with her two senior dogs, Brownie and Foxy. She is incredibly excited to join the seventh cohort at 国产哟哟 and begin her journey as a genetic counselor.  

Grace Fisher is from Rocky Hill, Connecticut. She graduated from Western New England University with a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Biology and a Minor in Chemistry. During her time at Western New England University, Grace was a member of the Women’s Basketball Team, winning a Conference Championship and making two NCAA Tournament appearances. 

Grace is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Pharmacogenomics at Western New England University. Through this program, she has studied genetics as it relates to various hereditary disorders as well as genetic effects on drug response. She is currently completing the research and clinical portion of the program. In addition to Grace’s education, many of her experiences have led to her passion for genetic counseling. Grace has dedicated much of her time to giving back to her community through youth sports. She served as a director for a youth sports camp as well as a volunteer basketball coach, where she worked with students with disabilities. It was during these coaching experiences that she found her passion for helping others. Grace also spent time shadowing and interviewing several genetic counselors in the prenatal field, which provided an insight into the career of genetic counseling and solidified her desire to enter the field.

In Grace’s free time, she enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her dog, Rocky. She loves being outdoors, playing sports, hiking, or even relaxing at the beach.

Anahit was born and raised in Armenia. She came to the US at 17 and started her higher education at Los Angeles Valley College. She transferred to USC and graduated summa cum laude with a BS in biochemistry. During her undergraduate, she was awarded a competitive federally funded NIH scholarship called the Undergraduate Scholarship Program (UGSP) award. Through this program, Anahit completed a post-baccalaureate research internship at the NIH on the genetics of autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases. After finishing her internship, she wanted to explore the field of genetic counseling further and thus joined Bionano Laboratories (formerly Lineagen) as a Genetic Counselor Assistant. Throughout this experience, she also volunteered as a crisis counselor and truly loved helping people in crisis and supporting them in difficult moments. These experiences made her realize that genetic counseling is indeed the field she is so passionate about and hopes to pursue- to be there for her future patients, educate them about their health and genetics, and support them on their healthcare journey.

Anahit is also a mom to her 6-month-old son, Levon. She loves spending time with her family, hiking with her husband and her son, and spending time at the beach. One of Anahit’s biggest hobbies is learning languages, and she is currently learning her fifth language, Spanish. Anahit is excited to join 国产哟哟 as an MSGC student and looks forward to starting her journey here to become a compassionate and knowledgeable genetic counselor!

Alyssa Griswold is from Jackson, Michigan. She went to Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and obtained a combined Bachelor's and Master's in Cell and Molecular Biology. She had been interested in genetics research since high school. While working on her graduate degree, she interned and then worked at NxGen MDx, a genetic carrier screening company, as a molecular technician.

After graduation, Alyssa moved to Orlando, Florida, for two years, where she assisted two pediatric neuro-oncologists in opening a brain tumor translational laboratory. This position focused on culturing brain tumors and molecular research to advance the field of pediatric neuro-oncology. Additionally, this is where Alyssa learned about clinical care and became interested in genetic counseling. Then, after two years in Orlando, she moved back to Michigan. This time in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where she obtained a job working for a veterinary research company, doing molecular vaccine development for domestic animals. Over time, Alyssa has volunteered at various brain tumor advocacy events, a therapeutic horse-riding center, Crisis Text Line, and a YWCA child care center.

Alyssa's favorite activities are watching movies and doing puzzles. She also loves spending time with her family. She still lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan, with her husband, baby boy, and three cats.

Melissa Hayden was raised in Tecumseh, Michigan, where she was a four-sport Varsity athlete throughout high school. She played collegiate softball at Eastern Michigan University and Hillsdale College, graduating with a B.S. in Biology with honors. She was also awarded the GLIAC Softball All-Academic team and a member of a social fraternity and two academic fraternities.

After undergrad, Melissa moved to Grand Rapids to work as an MA in an Emergency Department while obtaining her Master’s in Pharmacology and Toxicology with a focus on neurotoxicity from Michigan State University. Melissa originally applied and was accepted to medical school but disenrolled in 2019 to pursue her passion in genetic counseling.

Within that time period, Melissa worked on medical missions focused in Nicaragua and Peru and worked for the YWCA in Grand Rapids as a Rape and Domestic Violence Advocate and volunteer at their domestic violence shelter. Melissa also volunteered for ICCF, helping to build houses for those in need, and was a grant reviewer for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. She was also the Varsity Softball and Freshman Girl's Basketball coach, with her husband, at East Grand Rapids High School.

In 2020, Melissa and her husband found out they were pregnant with their first child, a baby girl named Ryann. They moved to Caledonia, Michigan, and when Ryann was only five months old, they found out they were pregnant with their second baby girl, Austyn.

Melissa is now ready to finish her education pursuit and work in a field she is passionate about while being an educator and advocate for her patients.

Melissa is an avid adventure seeker, whether that be through traveling across the world, skiing (both snow and water), playing in slow pitch and basketball leagues a couple of nights a week, or just any new activity that comes her way. She enjoys spending as much time as she can with family, and on her slow days loves crafting toys for her girls, reading, and cooking.

Stephanie grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and graduated magna cum laude from the University of New Mexico with a B.S. in Biology and a B.S. in Psychology in 2021. Stephanie discovered a love for patient care emphasizing mental well-being while volunteering at Agora Crisis Center and later working as a Research Assistant at a non-profit neurodegenerative research center in Albuquerque. She currently serves as a board member for the Parkinson’s Connection of Central New Mexico, working for the education, outreach, and support of the Albuquerque Parkinson’s community.

In her free time, Stephanie loves baking sweet treats, spending time with friends at trivia or rock climbing, and playing with her two rambunctious dogs, Ted and Cooper.

Curious from an early age, Jordan Olberding fell in love with genetics in seventh-grade biology class. That same year, she was nominated for and attended Tech Trek, a science camp for girls hosted by the American Association of University Women. Jordan went on to obtain her B.S. in Investigative Biotechnology and Biochemistry from Western Kentucky University and her M.S. in Cell Biology from Yale University. During her undergraduate and graduate studies, she participated in various research projects investigating the molecular mechanisms of human disease. Since graduate school, Jordan has worked in clinical genetics as a molecular genetics analyst, variant scientist, and people manager.

Having developed a technical and “behind the scenes” understanding of clinical genetics, as well as an unexpected love for working with people, Jordan became increasingly interested in the patient behind each report. What are all the conditions on this test panel, and what are the real-life implications of a positive finding? What type of follow-up, support, and medical care might this patient want to consider based on these results? With the goal of gaining the truly clinical perspective needed to answer these questions, she decided to pursue a future as a genetic counselor. She is thrilled to have been matched to the 国产哟哟 Masters of Science in Genetic Counseling Program and is honored by this opportunity to join the ranks of genetic counselors and work directly with patients as part of their care team.

Jordan currently lives in Chicago, where she is an active member of her community, a member of the board for her condo association, and an usher at her church. In her spare time, she enjoys sewing, reading, dancing, traveling, and long walks with her senior miniature poodle mix, Khloe.

Deanna Pietrorazio grew up in the small town of Middlebury, Connecticut. She graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2022 with a B.S. in Physiology and Neurobiology and in 2023 with a graduate certification in Clinical Genetics and Genomics. During her time there, she participated in the university’s ballet company as well as wrote an honors thesis entitled: “Regaining effort-based food motivation: the drug methylphenidate reverses the depressive effects of tetrabenazine in female rats.” This thesis helped her to understand the effects of drugs used to treat major depressive disorder and how these effects change in female versus male subjects. While Deanna loved studying brain chemistry, she grew even more fascinated with the role that genetics played in brain development. She has also peer tutored biology, chemistry, and math, volunteered with Crisis Text Line, and worked as a manager at the non-profit dance studio that she grew up in, where she often helped families through tough financial, social, and domestic situations.

In her free time, Deanna loves to exercise, dance, enjoy the outdoors, and spend time with her friends and family. She is very excited to begin 国产哟哟’s program and work towards her dream of becoming a genetic counselor.

Taylor Reiff is joining the program from Collegeville, Pennsylvania. She recently graduated a semester early from Wilkes University in 2023 with dual degrees in biology and neuroscience and a psychology minor. During her time at Wilkes, Taylor worked as a research assistant in the genetics lab on campus, investigating the Drosophila genome and studying the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor signaling targets and their role in eggshell structure and morphology. Outside the research lab, Taylor represented the Wilkes Women’s Soccer Team as a four-year member and captain. She and the team partnered alongside Special Olympics in a variety of events and worked towards the betterment of the Wilkes Barre community. In addition, Taylor served as a Student-Athlete Advisory Committee representative on both university and conference stages representing the Middle Atlantic Conference at the NCAA Division III level. In this role, Taylor represented the female population of athletes, focused on the mental health of student-athletes, and served as a member of the justice, diversity, and inclusion committee.

While searching for a rewarding career that allowed her to empower and make a notable difference in the lives of others, Taylor began volunteering for 7 Cups, an anonymous, online crisis counseling service, where she trained to be an active listener for those in need. Around the same time, Taylor was exposed to genetic counseling when her mother received genetic counseling and testing after receiving a cancer diagnosis. From there, Taylor began interviewing and shadowing genetic counselors and knew this was a community she wanted to be a part of. Through these experiences, she had the opportunity to intern in the Cancer Center through Phoenixville Hospital and obtain firsthand experience and exposure to the career, further solidifying her desire to become a genetic counselor.

Taylor hopes to be an influential figure collaborating with knowledgeable minds to spread awareness about genetic conditions, become an ally for those struggling to cope with their genetic diagnoses, and educate patients simultaneously. Taylor is grateful to 国产哟哟 for providing her with this opportunity and is thrilled to embark on the next step in her educational and professional journeys!

Victoria Robertson hails from the small town of Allegany, New York. She graduated from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in 2015 with an honors degree in Biology. While attending Edinboro, she earned a commission as a Medical Service Officer in the United States Army through the Fighting Scots Army ROTC program. Her first assignment on Active Duty was with the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, where she served as a medical platoon leader for the 4-9 Infantry Battalion and executive officer for the 4th Brigade Support Battalion. After promoting to Captain, she was reassigned to the 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, where she served as a medical operations planner and Company Commander for the 225th Brigade Support Battalion. 

Victoria has been involved with the Rape Abuse Incest National Network (RAINN) as a fundraiser since 2016 and has supported survivors as a volunteer crisis counselor on the National Sexual Assault Hotline since 2019. She currently resides in Franklin, Indiana, with her husband and two children. In her spare time, Victoria enjoys baking, working out, racing triathlon, and spending time with her family. Victoria is very excited to attend 国产哟哟 and looks forward to developing the skills necessary to support patients as a genetic counselor.

Erica Sontheimer lives in San Diego, CA, with her husband and two children. She studied physics as an undergraduate at Mount Holyoke College, which provided a strong foundation in analytical thinking and problem-solving. After college, she worked as a communications professional in a variety of roles and environments, while living in San Francisco, New York, and Brisbane, Australia. She loves helping people grasp complex ideas, which extends into her other pursuits as a creative writer and a former yoga teacher.

Erica has served long-term volunteer commitments at a suicide prevention hotline and a reproductive choice talk line. Over the last several years, while raising her young children, she developed and taught an elective arts course for an elementary school after obtaining a certificate in fine art.

She is honored to become a genetic counselor as the final chapter of her career journey, combining her communication and counseling skills with new genetic knowledge to help educate, connect, and improve the well-being of individuals and communities. Her pivot to genetic counseling is inspired by witnessing the rapid advancements of genetic sequencing and testing through her husband’s pioneering work as a research geneticist specializing in rare diseases. In 2010, she helped publicize “Mission Massimo,” an extraordinary undertaking of the first international team of clinicians and researchers to apply trio whole genome sequencing to diagnose a previously unknown leukodystrophy. Finding this work personally meaningful, she is excited to learn more about how to support people at the interface of genomic testing and promote public understanding and ethical applications of genomic medicine.

Erica loves being outdoors with her family and their border collie mix. She devours audiobooks and podcasts, knows far too much food trivia, and has some great stories about animal encounters in Australia.

Eva Steinbach was born and raised in Spokane, Washington. She attended The University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, and graduated in May of 2022 with a degree in Biology and Biochemistry.  During her undergraduate career, she spent several semesters working for the Neuroscience Department, focusing on the correlation between bee brain mass and the quantity of neurons in the brain. She also worked for the university as a peer tutor and teaching assistant, helping students find success in math and science courses throughout her college career. 

Eva originally went to U of A with the intention of applying to dental school upon graduation. However, once she got into her upper-level coursework, she quickly realized genetics was her true passion. After graduating, she moved back to Washington to gain experience in the oncology research field, working on clinical trials. In this role, she was able to work with a multidisciplinary team, combining genetics with all aspects of the oncology field to solidify her love of genetics and witness the profound impact genetic counselors have on patients and their communities. 

In the spring of 2023, Eva married and moved to upstate New York to live with her husband, who serves in the Army. Eva enjoys reading, yoga, cooking, and spending time with her husband in her spare time. She looks forward to the opportunities and challenges the Genetic Counseling program at 国产哟哟 will bring her as she embarks on this new journey. 

Matthew Stikeleather grew up in Cary, North Carolina. He first discovered the field of genetic counseling through his high school senior thesis, where he researched the risks and benefits of direct-to-consumer genetic tests and their genetic disease predictions. He quickly realized the significant need for genetic counselors who can interpret test results in coherent, compassionate ways to patients, and his passion for genetics and patient care aligned with those goals.

Matthew graduated from North Carolina State University with a BS in Biological Sciences and a minor in Genetics. During his time there, he helped students reach their academic goals as a chemistry tutor, taking on an additional role as a tutor supervisor in later years. He also served as a small group leader and mentor for CRU, an on-campus ministry, where he learned to listen with intentionality and demonstrate care effectively. These experiences, combined with a Pfizer summer internship where he performed gene therapy research, allowed Matthew to solidify his scientific communication skills and confirmed his heart for genetic counseling.

Since graduation, Matthew has worked full-time as a medical assistant in a primary care practice, where he has loved developing relationships with patients and gaining more exposure to the regular needs of those living with chronic conditions. In his spare time, he enjoys distance running, exploring greenways, catching the latest Star Wars and Marvel films, and serving in his church’s kids ministry with his wife, Beth. Matthew is delighted to be translating all his passion and education into his time with the Genetic Counseling program at 国产哟哟!

Madalyn Turner grew up in central Illinois, right along the Illinois River. After high school, she attended the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire and graduated in 2020, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology. Since then, she has worked as a genetic counseling intern with the Mayo Clinic Health System. She works for GeneDx as a genetic counseling assistant on their rapid sequencing team. In addition to working, Madalyn has volunteered at Crisis TextLine, women’s shelters, and STEM education programs. 

Madalyn always knew she wanted to work in the medical field, but it wasn’t until college that she stumbled across genetic counseling. This career would allow her to combine her love for genetics with the desire to educate and empower individuals to make informed medical choices. Needless to say, becoming a genetic counselor has been her dream since then. 

Outside of school and work, Madalyn enjoys running, hiking, traveling, playing board games, and baking. She recently moved to Great Falls, Montana, with her husband, dog, and cat, where they are all looking forward to living by the mountains and learning to ski.