DLS Student Ambassador
- Casey Mendoza
- Graduation Year: 2028
- Major: Exercise Science
- Minor(s): Public Health and Entrepreneurship
- Hometown: Rahway, NJ
- Career Interest: Dentistry (I'm particularly interested in orthodontics!)
- Fun Fact: I love playing volleyball, going to concerts, and traveling! I also studied abroad in Spain this past summer where I was able to visit and learn a lot about some of its major cities!
- What was your favorite class and why?:
Health Psychology with Professor Brynildsen has definitely been one of my favorite classes I've taken so far. This class showed me a lot about how psychological, social, and behavioral factors can greatly influence a person's overall health and well-being. I especially enjoyed learning about how these factors can affect the way people approach their health because it helped me understand how to better communicate with and treat future patients. As someone interested in pursuing a career in dentistry, the insight I gained from this course is extremely valuable since it showed me the importance of considering the whole person and their needs and experiences rather than just their physical or oral health.
- What other Rutgers activities and extracurricular activities do you participate in?:
At Rutgers, I am the Co-President of the Peruvian American Student Association (PASA), Co-Service Chair of the Pre-Health Latino Undergraduate Society (PLUS), and a member of the Rutgers Pre-Dental Society. With each of my executive board positions, I aim to promote my culture across campus while also giving back to the community of New Brunswick and staying focused on my career. Outside of Rutgers, I work as a sterilization lab technician at a private dental office and volunteer at a NJ-based nonprofit organization that promotes oral hygiene and provides children and families in underserved communities with the resources needed to access proper dental care.