I am a recent Master of Public Health graduate from UIC, with a concentration in Community Health Sciences and a certificate in Global Health. A theme that has often emerged in my work is supporting young people - kids, middle schoolers, teenagers, and college students. My backgrounds in public health and psychology have helped me to understand that environmental factors and social determinants of health are crucial to promoting positive outcomes for them and I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish so far with PROTECT. In my free time, I enjoy running, coloring, and spending time watching comfort shows with my friends.

Vicenta Vargas (she/her) earned her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience from the University of Michigan and her Master of Public Health, with a concentration in Health Policy and Administration, from the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). As a research associate, she supports recruitment, enrollment, and data collection for the PROTECT study. She is passionate about advancing health equity through research and policy focused on Latine communities. She currently serves as Vice President of the Esperanza Health Centers Associate Board. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, walking her dogs, and is currently training to hike Machu Picchu.