Kerritt Saintal, 28 – FUNDED
Although Kerritt Saintal, a Paliwal Club of 100 grant winner, has faced her fair share of obstacles, she hasn’t let them derail her path forward. She is currently pursuing a Master’s of Science degree in clinical epidemiology after achieving a Bachelor’s of Science in psychology and English writing.
What is your professional dream?
I want to be able to translate research into layman’s terms and into resources for underserved populations.
What does being in the Paliwal Club mean to you?
It means having a wonderfully diverse and supportive community that I can learn and grow from. Also, having the opportunity to also support others would be an honor.
Women are underrepresented in STEAM. How can we change this?
We can change this by increasing their accessibility. We do this in two ways: by showing them more examples of actual women in STEAM and by bringing these kinds of opportunities to them. Awareness is critical!
What are some of the challenges you have faced along the way?
I have faced just about every possible challenge. I have faced blatant discouragement; professors who have blatantly told me to consider a different career; racism; and ultimately my father passing away. But each of those challenges have only made me even more passionate to continue on this path.
How will this grant from the 1,000 Dreams Fund help you reach your goals?
It will help fund my tuition for the clinical epidemiology program.
