Greetings, everyone! My name is Clare Hansen (she/her). I am an EXITO Cohort 5 alumni and currently a senior at PSU, pursuing a B.S. in Psychology and Sociology.

I transferred to PSU from Clackamas Community College and initially joined the Build EXITO team as a scholar in 2019. As a non-traditional and first-generation student, I found many aspects of my undergrad experience overwhelming and confusing. I felt self-conscious about being an older student and how little I knew about the system of higher education. I aim to normalize these challenges and minimize the barriers for undergraduate students pursuing a scientific pathway. I am passionate about meeting students where they are and encouraging and supporting students in breaking traditional boundaries to establish innovative solutions in academia. The support, guidance, and structure provided by the Build EXITO community helped to reassure me of my strengths and abilities while challenging me personally, academically, and professionally.

I was placed in Dr. Eric Mankowski’s GVIR (Gendered Violence Interventions Research team), where I worked on an independent research project focusing on gun violence, specifically regarding unintentional toddler shootings and racial disparity in health and legal outcomes. In addition, my research interests include examining the impacts of traditional power dynamics through the lenses of intersectionality, particularly as it relates to both gender and race, to therefore better investigate how different concepts (e.g., white privilege, white threat, masculinity threat) influence society on a social level.

Clare is interested in working with students from all backgrounds, particularly students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ students, first-generation students, transfer students, students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, students needing help navigating and applying for financial aid and scholarships, and those who are unsure of their career paths/ wanting support in finding a career path they feel passionate about.

Please follow the link to schedule a meeting with me. I look forward to meeting with you. YouCanBookMe

Hafa Adai (hello) scholars! My name is Shanthia Espinosa, and I am from Saipan, a small island a part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). I am Chamorro (Pacific Islander) and Dominican - Haitian race. I was a previous scholar for BUILD EXITO Cohort 5 and transferred from the Northern Marianas College in Saipan in 2020.

As a transfer student during the start of the pandemic, it was definitely challenging but with the support of BUILD EXITO, EMPOWER, McNair, and the PSU resource center and SHAC, I was able to thrive with my peers, staff, friends, and family.

This spring, I obtained my Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health: Community Health Promotion and a minor in Child, youth, and family studies. As a recent graduate, I am now working as a Research Assistant II at the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health in Dr. Lisa Marriott's lab. I also serve as a Research and Program support/ mentor to Pacific Islander high school students at Roosevelt High School. I can't wait to meet you all and support you in any way that I can. Best of luck this school year!

If you would like to schedule a meeting with me: https://shanthiaespinosa.youcanbook.me/

I am Thandose Kalinda (She/Her). I really enjoy science! I mean what’s not to like? Like many of my cohort, I am a first-generation scholar! I did not know much about scientific research or data collection or know how studies were initiated prior to Build EXITO. Through this wonderful opportunity, I have definitely learned a lot and want to do more.

When I first decided to pursue a career in healthcare, my passion was and continues to be women’s health and emergency care. I love the fast pace of emergency medicine, the diverse patients as well as the dynamic healthcare clinicians who deliver care. I am extremely interested in serving my community and providing much-needed care in endocrinology and reproductive health from birth to menopause and beyond is important to me.

My name is Brandy Lentz (she/her). I am one of the Graduate Research Assistants for BUILD EXITO- biomedical research training program. I am working on an MPH in Health Management and Policy. I am also currently working as a Research Assistant II in Dr. Lisa Marriott’s lab here at OHSU. I am passionate about increasing access to pediatric healthcare for parents with disabilities.

Hello everyone! I am a Graduate Research Assistant working with EXITO and am I'm also an EXITO alumni from Cohort 3. I graduated with my BS in Public Health Studies with a Pre-Clinical Health Science track in June of 2021. I’m currently in my second year obtaining my MPH in the Health Promotion track at the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health. I was born and raised in Saipan, CNMI and made the move to Portland in 2018 to pursue higher education. I have interests in learning about the transition to higher education for Asian/Pacific Islander folks, exploring multiple methods of research and evaluation that study how our health programs engage with the community, and working with data to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Ann Jeline is interested in working with first-generation students, transfer students from the Pacific islands, students from low socioeconomic or underrepresented backgrounds, students needing help navigating and applying for financial aid and scholarships, students who need support/finding resources in navigating higher education, and anyone needing guidance as they work towards their personal/educational goals. If you'd like to schedule a meeting with me, click here: https://amanabat.youcanbook.me

ສະບາຍດີ! (hello) My name is Angie Setthavongsack (He/She/They), also known as Gee, and I'm a first generation Laotian-American. I graduated with a BS in Psychology and Public Health Communications. During undergrad, I involved myself in leadership activities within PIAAA (Pacific Islander, Asian, Asian-American) such as being president for the Cambodian Student Association.

I started my BUILD EXITO journey back in 2019 as a sophomore with an interest to transgenerational trauma, the study of DNA methylation due to traumatic incidents. After witnessing countless of family members going through vast illnesses, I knew creating an environment where families would not need to worry about essentials, could then focus on education.

I'm currently working in Dr. Lisa Marriott's lab with a focus on inclusive demographics and cognitive function. I've been named as an alternative for the prestigious scholarship named Fulbright, and am currently reapplying to pursue mental health studies within microbiome at Mae Fah Luang University located in Thailand.