she/her/hers

School of Arts and Sciences ‘25

Neuroscience and Behavior Major

Chemistry and Social Justice Minor

I was born and raised in Newark, New Jersey, where I developed a profound connection to my community. Choosing to attend Rutgers University Newark was a personal choice based on wanting to make a meaningful impact in the place I call home. My connection to Newark has fueled my passion for positive change, and the HLLC has given me the opportunities to do so. My ultimate aspiration is to become a physician, a goal that holds immense personal significance for me. As a Latina woman, I want to address the healthcare disparities that are often prevalent within communities like mine. My journey at Rutgers University Newark has not just been about academic pursuits; it is a stepping stone toward realizing my dream of making a lasting impact in medicine and breaking down barriers for aspiring professionals.

As a freshman, I took Intergroup Dialogue with Dean Esquilin, a course designed to help students improve their dialogue in everyday spaces. I was given the opportunity to express myself freely and also learn how to do so. Through this course, I now apply what I have learned to the causes I am passionate about. For example, my community engagement journey began during my freshman year at Rutgers University. Serving as an interpreter for the Speech Pathology Clinic at Rutgers Health in Newark, I played a critical role in facilitating communication between healthcare professionals and the local community. Translating for patients and their parents, I developed a personal connection to this cause, reflecting on my own experiences translating for my parents growing up. Witnessing the significant impact one can have in the healthcare field fueled my determination to take action. Motivated by this, I instated Interlingual as a Student Organization at Rutgers University Newark. This initiative seeks to tackle the language barrier in healthcare by involving students in providing interpretation services. By integrating language support within the healthcare setting, I wanted to enhance accessibility and communication for individuals facing linguistic challenges. During my third year at RU-N, I went on a transformative Global Health Practicum trip to Tanzania where I gained firsthand insights into healthcare systems in a different cultural context. The experience was eye-opening, offering valuable lessons about the diverse roles of healthcare professionals and the myriad ways individuals can contribute to the well-being of communities.

These experiences and everything I have learned in the HLLC space have shaped my understanding of the importance of addressing language barriers in healthcare, both locally and globally. From my initial role as a clinic interpreter to instating Interlingual and participating in a global health practicum, each step has deepened my commitment to creating inclusive healthcare environments. As I continue this journey, my goal is to inspire positive change and contribute to breaking down linguistic barriers that hinder access to essential healthcare services.

For me, embracing social justice means acknowledging the complexities of systemic issues and striving for positive change. It involves amplifying marginalized voices, advocating for policies that promote equity, and actively engaging in conversations that challenge ingrained biases. Social justice is not a one-size-fits-all concept; it requires a continuous commitment to learning, evolving perspectives, and taking tangible actions to create a society where everyone can live, work, and pursue their dreams without facing undue obstacles. Ultimately, it’s about fostering a community where empathy, understanding, and equality serve as the foundation for a more just and compassionate world.

she/her/hers

School of Arts & Sciences ‘25

Journalism and Video Production Major

Political Science and Social Justice Minor 

My name is Anya Dillard. I’m a community organizer, social entrepreneur, and multimedia storyteller who’s been disrupting narratives since I was 5-years-old. I am also the founder of The Next Gen Come Up – a 501(c)3 that’s been encouraging youth to pursue activism, get involved in community service, and raise awareness by creating thought-provoking works of art since 2018 – and CEO of Jenevesque Media LLC. – a multimedia production house that strives to amplify global black and brown voices, eradicate harmful stereotypes, and make advanced media technologies – like AR & VR interfaces – more accessible through its projects. 

I was born into a big family full of black creatives, musicians, artists, and entrepreneurs who taught me to value my African-American and Guyanese heritage and to uphold the legacy of my ancestors. I grew up in the extraordinarily diverse suburb of West Orange, New Jersey, and had the privilege of being surrounded by people of every culture, creed, and socioeconomic background all throughout my childhood. I grew up believing that no matter their color, gender, class, or creed, everyone was a neighbor, a member of my community.

Growing up, my family taught me that everything that made me beautiful, everything that made me brilliant, and everything that made me powerful came from being an Afro-Caribbean woman. So, for me, growing up black made life feel like one of those feel-good movies; no matter what life threw my way, I always walked with my head held high, reminding myself that I had a crown up there to protect. It meant pouring libations at every family dinner. It was waking up smelling cedarwood, ackee, and saltfish. It was fighting my little brother for that last piece of curry chicken and my mother blasting nothing but Charlie Wilson and New Edition from Thanksgiving all the way through to New Year’s. 

Growing up black, for me, meant being able to cook like a Jamaican, talk like a Brit, and dance like a New Yorker – potentially all at the same family function. It was walking into the whitest of rooms with my afro-picked wall to wall and schooling anyone who thought “You’re pretty for a black girl” was a compliment. It was co-organizing my town’s first-ever Juneteenth celebration, demanding justice for black lives in front of thousands of people on the steps of West Orange City Hall, and becoming the 1st woman in my high school to head an all-people of color, all-female, student council cabinet.

While I’m best known in my community for contributing to the largest civil rights protest to take place in West Orange and helping to organize my town’s first public Juneteenth celebration, I spearheaded my first-ever charity initiative in 2008, raising funds to provide disabled youth with essential resources. I ran this initiative for 13 years and, over the course of my career, have organized countless other protests, mutual aid efforts, cultural celebrations, and media campaigns advocating for climate change awareness, demanding equal protections for voting and reproductive rights, pushing for the eradication of period poverty, advocating for black liberation, and demanding justice for victims of police brutality.

In 2023, I participated in a 15-city-wide voter-cade handing out thousands of banned books across the state of Florida, worked with the family of Emmett Till to amplify the significance of preserving black history throughout the deep south, and partnered with global brands like UGG, Puma, and Savage X Fenty on media campaigns that helped to highlight the need for heightened mental health awareness in the fashion industry, set a new sustainability standard and human rights focus across the supply chain, and amplify the need for more positive black representation in the media and beauty industry. This Spring, I will be partnering with Thinking Huts and Have a Nice Day to raise money toward the construction of 3D-printed (K-10) schools in Madagascar, and I plan to continue utilizing my platform to continue creating positive social impacts across the globe.

Because of how often I travel for work, and unlike many of my other HLLC peers, I commute to and from school every day. However, traveling out of state with the HLLC gave me a unique opportunity to build community with peers in ways that I wouldn’t have experienced otherwise. In October of 2022, I traveled to California with Dean Eatman and a handful of other HLLC students to put on a panel at UC Santa Cruz’s annual All-In Conference. Getting the opportunity to moderate such a powerful panel, connect with student organizers from UC Santa Cruz, bond with my peers, moderate such a powerful panel, and be not only heard but celebrated by the many academics and professionals in attendance was such an empowering experience and I came home from that trip with an entirely new perspective on the kind of insights I wanted to contribute to the social impact space.

As a result of my advocacy work, I’ve been featured in The Washington Post, CNN, Huffington Post, BET, Red Table Talk, Elle, Seventeen, and Glamour Magazines. I’ve also been highlighted in Teen Vogue’s 21 Under 21 list, McDonald’s Inaugural Future 22 cohort, and Ulta Beauty’s Muse 100. I’ve always found myself analyzing how media has been used to both oppress and empower marginalized people throughout history. With that said, after graduation, I plan to pursue an M.A. in Film Production and aspire to lead a legacy as a creative change agent who utilizes media as a conduit for liberation. 

I grew up being proud of my blackness, but growing up black in this country showed me that there were countless devices embedded within our society whose sole purpose was to work against that pride in the hearts and minds of black and brown people all over the world. It was this realization that inspired me to do something revolutionary with my life and utilize my visionary talents to uplift marginalized communities and honor the fact that I am, indeed, my ancestors’ wildest dream.

she/her/hers

School of Arts and Sciences ‘26

Neuroscience and Behavior Major 

Social Justice Minor

I was born and raised in Union City, New Jersey, where I attended school from daycare through high school. Union City is the 19th most populous city, with Hispanics comprising 81% of the population. Growing up, I was surrounded by people who shared my appearance, backgrounds, cultures, religions, and traditions. Racism and discrimination were never concerns until I left Union City. In May 2022, I accepted the offer to attend Rutgers University Newark as an Honors Living-Learning Community scholar. I wasn’t fully prepared for the changes, both external and internal, that awaited me. This marked the beginning of my journey of self-discovery. 

I attended Jose Marti STEM Academy during my high school years, immersed in a STEM track. It was there that I discovered my passion for science, which later evolved into a passion for medicine after COVID-19 changed my perspective on healthcare. Despite my academic dedication, I was too shy to apply for leadership positions or fully integrate with my immediate school community. I doubted my leadership abilities and feared rejection and invalidation for my academic pursuits. Joining the HLLC marked a shift in my perspective. The scholarship’s curriculum courses, Navigating Spaces, Places, and Identities paired with Voice, Citizenship, and Community Engagement, taught me nuanced approaches to effectual leadership and advocacy, as open dialogues with my peer scholars opened my mind to new ideas born of varying life experiences. Living in and integrating with a diverse community exposed me to new conversations, sparking questions about my acceptance into HLLC. Initially, I felt a lack of belonging, stuck in my past instead of embracing growth. I was afraid of joining such a diverse community and interacting with people from different backgrounds. It all felt too different and too fast to assimilate.

The summer after my first year as an undergrad, I reflected on my HLLC experiences, life goals, and the social issues that rooted my aspirations at the crossroads of justice and medicine. I want to use my voice, amplified by the guidance of the HLLC, to improve healthcare for immigrants and minorities in the U.S., increase representation in healthcare, advocate for my Latino community as a future physician, and enhance access to worldwide healthcare for underprivileged communities. Thanks to HLLC, I found my voice and identity. This journey taught me that fear often holds people back from achieving great things. I am proud to be an HLLC scholar.

What I love about this program is that I didn’t have to go through it alone. My Peer Mentors could relate, offer counsel, and guide us through the college transition, which helped me feel more at ease. Additionally, the care and genuine investment of the HLLC deans provided another outlet to discuss my worries, aspirations, and seek guidance, helping me build strong relationships with them. Through these interactions, my love for the community began to override my fear of belonging to it. After engaging with the HLLC community as a freshman, I was inspired to deepen my involvement with the program. Despite my initial apprehension, I received strong support and encouragement to apply for the Peer Mentorship program. Following an interview, I was selected as a mentor for the incoming freshmen cohort. The summer training for the mentorship program helped me develop and practice facilitation skills, leadership skills, and confidence in my mentorship. I’ve always been passionate about giving back, which fuels my aspiration to become a doctor. As a mentor, I’ve found joy in leading by example and supporting our students, motivating me to seek similar opportunities within my community. When the HLLC Pre-Health group restarted, I applied for the Community Outreach Coordinator role and was selected. This motivated me to expand my outreach beyond HLLC. When I found out about Interlingual, a student group dedicated to breaking language barriers in healthcare, I saw a chance to pursue my passion. They needed a Social Relations Coordinator, a role that fit perfectly with my artistic skills, an opportunity sent by God. In roles that let me pursue my passions and help others, I’m enjoying life more than ever. 

Recently, I was blessed with an opportunity to bring together everything I’ve learned from the HLLC, my leadership roles, and my self-discovery into one project: The Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA). LMSA is a national network of Latinx healthcare professionals, medical, and pre-health students dedicated to increasing medical representation, raising awareness of critical health issues, and advocating for reducing healthcare disparities among patients of color. Connecting with a medical student and Rutgers alumni with a dream to establish an LMSA chapter at Rutgers University-Newark led me on the path to join the effort. I’m the founder and Co-president of the RU-N LMSA PLUS chapter, striving to create more than a club by fostering a sense of family and community through support, mentorship, and advocacy, inspired by my experiences in the HLLC. I plan to expand the organization beyond Rutgers University, branching to neighboring university and high school campuses.

My goal is to pursue numerous passion projects and help as many people as I can along the way. I believe that everyone has a purpose and multiple gifts granted by God. We can utilize our talents and skills to make a difference in the world and engage in projects that inspire us. My motivation to help others comes from the support I have received in the past, and I aspire to continue reaching out to people and fulfilling my life’s calling.

she/her/ella

School of Arts and Sciences 25′

Neuroscience and Behavior Major

Biology and Social Justice Minor

I am an undocumented immigrant and an older sister to two lovely young ladies. I believe these two identities are at the core of who I am and where I aspire to be. As a proud Salvadoreña, it pains me to acknowledge that my time in my homeland was marred by crime, poverty, and limited opportunities for advancement. In the 2010s, my country bore the unfortunate distinction of having the highest homicide rate in the world. My mother knew that if we stayed, I might not make it past my teenage years, and if I did, it would be as the wife of a Marero. Consequently, in 2008, we undertook the arduous journey of illegally crossing the border from Mexico into Texas, navigating by foot, pickup truck, semi-truck, bus, and speedboat. Life became a harsh struggle, marked by extreme poverty, visible signs of malnutrition, and precarious living conditions. However, amidst these challenges, I gained access to education, a privilege denied to me back home. Immersing myself in books became a source of solace, trying my hardest to make friends and finding it difficult to get past the gaze of racism and xenophobia that my peers met me with. In 2009, my little sister was born, and in her, I found my purpose in life. Every endeavor, every facet of my existence, is dedicated to my sisters. America is their only reality, and my mission is to cultivate a safe haven for them here. My commitment is not borne of expectation for reciprocation but rather stems from a deep-seated love for them. They deserve hearty meals, tranquil nights under a gentle breeze, safe streets to walk to school, and the comfort of a loving support system. While the resilience of our waves, the power of our volcanoes and the warmth of our people remain etched in my soul, I now identify as Salvadoran-American. This transformation is not fueled by disdain for my homeland nor by a belief in our inferiority; rather, it is rooted in the presence of my family and the sense of belonging I’ve found here.

The community work I engage in revolves around supporting Latin individuals as they navigate the complexities of assimilating into American culture. Volunteering with the Kids in Need of Defense organization, I serve as a translator for children who have recently crossed the border, ensuring they receive fair legal representation. I vividly recall my own arrival here—traumatized, hungry, and bewildered—when a compassionate college student stepped in to interpret for my mother and me. That act of kindness left an indelible mark on me, igniting a desire to pay it forward and ease another young child’s journey through this daunting process. Additionally, I devote my time to teaching English with the Aprendalo organization, offering free lessons to individuals in Latin America seeking to learn a second language for personal growth or professional advancement. I’ve also served as a translator at the Rutgers Speech Language Pathology clinic, assisting undocumented patients across various stages of health issues in receiving the care they deserve. Soon, I’ll be taking on a new role as a translator at University Hospital, aiding families whose primary language isn’t English in accessing essential healthcare services during times of need. Each of these endeavors is fueled by a deep-seated passion to make a tangible difference in the lives of others, driven by the empathy and understanding born of my own journey. I am committed to leveraging my skills and experiences to uplift and empower those in need, ensuring that everyone, regardless of their background, has equitable access to support and opportunities.

My friends are my best memories of the HLLC. This program has the unique job of bringing together people from all walks of life who are passionate about social justice. With each day that I spend in their company, I learn something new about the world, the joys of life, and the existentialism of living in such turbulent times. My personal and professional development would not be possible if not for their fierce loyalty, unconditional love, and drive to make each day better than the last.