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Bio and Photo Coming Soon

jabriel@miners.utep.edu

Bio and Photo Coming Soon

atharber@miners.utep.edu

Born and raised in El Paso, Noah Menchaca earned his B.A. in Sociology here at UTEP in the Fall of 2022. He was formerly a Multimedia Journalism major and would go on to minor in Communication Studies. Since January 2023, he has been a graduate student in the Sociology and Anthropology department. He has also been working as a graduate research assistant in the department of Research & Innovation for the Research Evaluation and Assessment Services (REAS) unit. His current research interests deal with environmental justice, ecological gentrification, and other forms of environmental inequality.

nmenchaca@miners.utep.edu

Amanda Palacios received a master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology from NMSU and a bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures from UT Austin. Her research focuses on traditional food practices, health disparities, and place-based knowledge in the Chihuahuan Desert borderland region.

 Throughout her graduate studies, she contributed to cancer research as part of the Partnership for the Advancement of Cancer Research (PACR) between NMSU and the Fred Hutch Cancer Center, assisting in the collection and analysis of both quantitative and qualitative data. As an intern, she participated in the Greenlee Lab, which is dedicated to researching diet and nutrition as cancer prevention and control. At NMSU, she assisted Dr. Humairat Rahman in locating and testing water wells for contamination in Doña Ana County. She also served on the TEAL (Tobacco Exposure and Activity in LGBTQIA+) team under co-principal investigators Dr. Tamara Stimatze and Dr. Jaime Heffner.

 Amanda is the recipient of NMSU’s Dean’s Graduate Award for Excellence for the College of Arts and Sciences and served as a Chihuahuan Desert Cultural Fellow at La Semilla Food Center. Her favorite pastimes include bird watching, hiking, cooking, and gardening.

 atpalacios@miners.utep.edu

I was born in Bagerhat, Bangladesh on July 7, 1999. Much of my teenage years were spent in Bagerhat. I started going to school from a very young at the age of 5.  I had a very keen and curious mind from that age. It was soon after that I found out my passion for social works and various forms of charity works because of my father's inspirations. In 2008 I passed my primary school and got the government scholarship for great performance. Soon after that I joined Mobidul Islam High School. I have a lot of great memories and achievements associated with my high school. I obtained another government scholarship in 2011 for meritorious performance and another one in 2014 for obtaining GPA 5.00.  After that I got myself admitted in Kachua Degree College,where my engagement extended beyond the classroom. I

excelled in debates and various co-curricular activities, earning recognition and immersing myself in student politics. I got another government scholarship for great performance in my HSC examination where I obtained Golden GPA 5.00, the highest attainable GPA. After that I had to compete to get into a university. I got admitted to the Ãå±±ÂÖ¼é of Dhaka, which had an acceptance rate of only 3%.Here, I chose to study Sanskrit literature, driven by my deep fascination with Indo-Indian culture and religious perspectives. Throughout my undergraduate years, I focused my attention on Indo-Indian society and culture. Simultaneously, my commitment to student politics and social work flourished. I became the Joint Secretary of Jagannath Hall Student's League. The COVID-19 pandemic presented an opportunity for me to engage in numerous charity initiatives. Have to mention that,In 2018, my life changed dramatically when my elder brother and his wife lost their newborn due to a lack of proper healthcare. This heartbreaking experience deeply affected my family and me. The loss of our first family baby ignited a passion in me to address healthcare disparities. It made me realize the importance of accessible healthcare for all. This event shifted my academic focus towards studying how society and healthcare intersect. During my time in student politics, I took part in seminars and discussions on healthcare access, early marriage, and the importance of nutrition during pregnancy and for newborns. These experiences helped me understand these important issues better and made me more determined to work on them. I also learned a lot from experts in the field, which deepened my understanding of why healthcare disparities exist, especially in Bangladesh. After completing my undergraduate degree, I took on the role of a part-time gym instructor while continuing my research. My ultimate goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in sociology, enabling me to dedicate my career to addressing the pressing issue of medical sociology and working tirelessly for the betterment of society. I firmly believe that 'health is wealth,' and I am committed to improving access to healthcare and reducing disparities for all.

psikder@miners.utep.edu