Ashley (Ash) Valdez is a fourth-year undergrad from Tustin, CA. She will graduate this Spring (23’) with a Bachelor's in Molecular and Cell Biology. Ash's interest in science began in the 2nd grade when she was asked where she got her dimples. She thought about it for some time hoping to come to a conclusion but only knew it was somehow because of her dad. From that moment, it sparked a passion in her and she knew she wanted to pursue a career in STEM. Ash chose biology in hopes of understanding why and how she could have inherited dimples. This may seem like a small physical trait to others but to Ash it represented the complexities of life and her passion to understand it. Throughout her time at UC Merced, she found a strong liking for research and therefore hopes to pursue a Ph.D. As an undergrad, she was given the opportunity of being a student-athlete on the cross-country team while participating in research as a UC LEADS scholar. Ash took on leadership roles such as Vice-President for SACNAS and co- founded RFK Young Leaders at UC Merced. She would like to thank her family for being an amazing support system and for being the inspiration behind all her accomplishments. Ash would also like to thank her mentor, Caleb Larnerd, for helping her find her passion in research and for always believing in her. She is very grateful for everything UC Merced has had to offer her and will always cherish the memories she mad
