Congratulations to our 2023 #SACNISTAGRADS! #truediversity

On behalf of our vast SACNAS community, congratulations to the Class of 2023! This is an exciting time of year to celebrate your monumental achievements while we reflect on your past academic journeys and plan your futures.

Our members are earning their degrees while facing unprecedented challenges and adversity, some not felt since our founding in the early 1970s. They are not alone - the power of the SACNAS national network shines as a beacon of light, allowing them to think big while remaining true to themselves, and representative of their culture and community.

We invite you to meet some of our #SACNISTAGRADS in the gallery below. If you are a member of the Class of 2023, it's not too late to share your story and photos with us - simply tag us using #SACNISTAGRAD or by emailing members@sacnas.org.

Alysia Martinez

Institution: Baylor University

Degree: Bachelor of Science

Discipline/Focus Areas: Life Sciences/Cell/Molecular Biology. Minors in both Biochemistry & Music

Honors: Magna Cum Laude

How has SACNAS made an impact on your education and/or life? SACNAS surrounded me with motivating mentors and other Hispanic scientists I can look up to!

What will you do next? I will be pursuing my Master of Science in Experimental and Translational Therapeutics at the University of Oxford.

What advice do you have for your peers/fellow SACNISTAs who are graduating this year or in the future?
Keep going! If you want it- don't quit fighting for it!

Alexander Rosales

Institution: California State University, Fullerton

Degree: Bachelor of Science

Discipline/Focus Areas: Cell/Molecular Biology

SACNAS Chapter Member: California State University, Fullerton

How has SACNAS made an impact on your education and/or life? SACNAS strengthened my leadership skills.

What will you do next? I plan to attend medical school.

What advice do you have for your peers/fellow SACNISTAs who are graduating this year or in the future? Remember why you started and finish strong!

Christina Pantoja

Institution: California State University, Long Beach

Degree: Master of Science

Discipline/Focus Areas: Life Sciences/Biology

Honors: Bridges to the Doctorate Fellowship

How has SACNAS made an impact on your education and/or life? SACNAS is a reminder of what diverse students can achieve in STEM and how far we can go. I appreciate seeing people succeed who look just like me. It motivates me to keep going!

What will you do next? Attending UC Irvine’s Cellular & Molecular Biosciences Ph.D. program in Fall 2023.

What advice do you have for your peers/fellow SACNISTAs who are graduating this year or in the future? Anything is possible!

Cassie Baker

Tribal Affiliation: Northern Cheyenne

Institution: Montana State University

Degree: Bachelor of Science

Discipline/Focus Areas: Mathematics/STEM Education & Learning

Honors: Udall Scholar, McNair Scholar, American Indian 7th Generation Presidential Scholar, Gloria E. Wheeler Mathematics Scholarship, Outstanding Graduating Senior Awardee, and the Student of Achievement Awardee to the Doctorate Fellowship.

SACNAS Chapter Member: Montana State University, Bozeman

How has SACNAS made an impact on your education and/or life? SACNAS has helped me create connections with other indigenous scholars. I found a support group that I can turn to when I am struggling. It has also helped me see the potential I have and the resources I can utilize to go to grad school. SACNAS has changed the course of my life.

What will you do next? I will work as a teacher for 1-2 years before applying to graduate school. I have applied to a few teaching positions; my dream job is to work at a school in Boston.

What advice do you have for your peers/fellow SACNISTAs who are graduating this year or in the future? Sometimes life will pull you in different directions. Find a way to do what you need without compromising yourself, your dreams, or your ambitions.

Charles Bush

Tribal Affiliation: Oglala Sioux Tribe

Institution: Oglala Lakota College

Degree: Bachelor of Science

Discipline/Focus Areas: Natural Science with an emphasis on Conservation Biology.

How has SACNAS made an impact on your education and/or life? SACNAS has allowed me to be in more spaces with people who look like me, identify like me, and bring about the idea and concept of what it means to indigenize research truly.

What will you do next? I will start the Master of Arts in Teaching Earth Science to Middle and High Schoolers (teaching residency) through the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, beginning in June 2023.

What advice do you have for your peers/fellow SACNISTAs who are graduating this year or in the future? If there's anything I took away from finishing out the last part of my degree during the pandemic is having a state of mind open to seeing others for who they are and not what we want them to be and having to learn about what being adaptable means. Knowing that adaptability extends to places beyond what our minds can fathom and knowing it's okay because that is all just a part of the process in the grand scheme of things.

Daniella James

Tribal Affiliation: San Carlos Apache Tribe

Institution: San Carlos Apache College

Degree: Associate of Business / Associate of Applied Science

Discipline/Focus Areas: Business Administration and Business in Business Management

Honors/Awards: Degrees granted with High Honors, James Beard Foundation with Andrew Zimmern Scholarship, Cobell Scholarship, AISES Business and STEM Cohort Scholar, SHPEP at UCLA recipient.

How has SACNAS made an impact on your education and/or life? The national conference has guided me to immediately start planning for a master's degree. Wow!

What will you do next? I am currently pursuing my bachelor’s degree.

What advice do you have for your peers/fellow SACNISTAs who are graduating this year or in the future? Aim for a master's and Ph.D.!

David Rodriguez

Institution: California State University, Santa Barbara

Degree: Bachelor of Science

Discipline/Focus Areas: Life Sciences/Biology

How has SACNAS made an impact on your education and/or life? Without SACNAS I would not be able to find a community within science and start building my career and experiences in research!

What will you do next? I will be attending the PREP Post-Baccalaureate Program at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

What advice do you have for your peers/fellow SACNISTAs who are graduating this year or in the future? I would encourage my peers to attend a research conference and begin building connections within research and academia.

Pepper Clair

Institution: California State University, Monterey Bay

Degree: Bachelor of Science

Discipline/Focus Areas: Life Sciences: Cell/Molecular Biology

Honors/Awards: Took Second Place in Session 22 Undergraduate Biological and Agricultural Sciences at the California State University Student Research Competition, First Place in CSU Monterey Bay’s Fall Research Competition.

How has SACNAS made an impact on your education and/or life? SACNAS offers an opportunity for a diverse range of scientists to connect and network. This is essential in the growth and development of aspiring researchers.

What will you do next? I will be joining the ClinGen affiliated with the University of North Carolina's Biocuration Core.

What advice do you have for your peers/fellow SACNISTAs who are graduating this year or in the future? Keep in close contact with your mentors and supporters who have helped you get this far! And continue to believe in yourself! You got this!

Sofia Romero

Institution: University of Wisconsin Madison

Degree: Ph.D., Microbiology

Discipline/Focus Areas: Life Sciences: Cell/Molecular Biology

How has SACNAS made an impact on your education and/or life? SACNAS exposed me to a community of scientists that looked like me and that made me believe that I do belong in science.

What will you do next? I am planning to pursue a post-doctorate fellowship focused on studying the pathology of respiratory viral infections.

What advice do you have for your peers/fellow SACNISTAs who are graduating this year or in the future? Take your academic /career journey one day at a time. Some days will feel like you absolutely belong and other days you won’t, believe in the former always.

Monica Urias

Institution: California State University, Monterey Bay

Degree: Bachelor of Science

Discipline/Focus Areas: Environmental Science/Biology

How has SACNAS made an impact on your education and/or life? SACNAS has given me the opportunity to present my research to colleagues in my field and I was able to explore my graduate school research interests further. As a first-generation Hispanic in STEM, I have the ability to show my parents and my community the accomplishments and recognition I receive as I engage in higher education and research.

What will you do next? I will be studying Stress-Induced Evolution in Tunicates at UC Davis in their Ecology Ph.D. program.

What advice do you have for your peers/fellow SACNISTAs who are graduating this year or in the future? Taking opportunities that make you feel supported are the best opportunities. Pursue what you love and continue to expand your connections with people in those fields.

Jayson A. Garcia-Varela

Institution: Gallaudet University

Degree: Bachelor of Science

Discipline/Focus Areas: Health/Biology

How has SACNAS made an impact on your education and/or life? SACNAS has helped me find my community which needs more representation in STEM, and I love to be part of the change!

What will you do next? Completing a post-baccalaureate program before attending medical school.

What advice do you have for your peers/fellow SACNISTAs who are graduating this year or in the future? Let’s continue taking over STEM and, learn an indigenous language.

Melissa Hassmer

Institution: San Francisco State University

Degree: Master of Science

Discipline/Focus Areas: Life Sciences: Cell/Molecular Biology

How has SACNAS made an impact on your education and/or life? SACNAS has allowed me to network with other people in my field.

What will you do next? Participate in biotech research, and eventually apply to Ph.D. programs.

What advice do you have for your peers/fellow SACNISTAs who are graduating this year or in the future? Don't lose contact with the people you developed relationships with during your time that is past.

Monica Rosell

Institution: Georgia State University

Degree: Bachelor of Science

Discipline/Focus Areas: Psychology & Social Sciences/Neuroscience

Honors: Cum Laude

How has SACNAS made an impact on your education and/or life? SACNAS provided wonderful information and guidance for the next steps and resources through its leadership programming.

What will you do next? I will be working to complete certifications for career advancement.

What advice do you have for your peers/fellow SACNISTAs who are graduating this year or in the future? You can do anything you set your mind to. Make a plan. Take action. If you feel like you have no support around look around and reach out and you’ll find that there are a lot more people rooting for you than you know.

Roberta Cárdenas

Institution: Hawaii Pacific University

Degree: Bachelor of Science

Discipline/Focus Areas: Life Sciences/Marine Sciences

How has SACNAS made an impact on your education and/or life? SACNAS has provided me with both a supportive community and guidance as I continue my academic career.

What will you do next? I’m taking a year off and will be applying to graduate school for polar marine science.

What advice do you have for your peers/fellow SACNISTAs who are graduating this year or in the future? Take advantage of all the networking opportunities you are presented with.

Melissa White

Tribal Affiliation: Sisseton Wahpeton Sioux Tribe

Institution: Sisseton Wahpeton College

Degree: Associate of Arts

Discipline/Focus Areas: General Studies

What will you do next? I am currently pursuing my Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Science.

What advice do you have for your peers/fellow SACNISTAs who are graduating this year or in the future? Congratulations you did it. Follow your heart’s dreams.