Bri is from a small town in central Minnesota. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at the University of Minnesota Duluth in 2014 with a minor in Hispanic Studies. During school, she did research on the efficacy of the student bereavement policy, which she ultimately updated. Bri was also a tutor for local high school students and a teaching assistant in the Genetics Laboratory. After graduation, Bri discovered the field of genetic counseling and began pursuing this career. She started an internship at the Center Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse in Wisconsin, working in the emergency shelter. After her internship, she was hired on as a Shelter Advocate, working overnights in shelter and answering the 24-hour crisis line. Following this experience, Bri worked as a Medical Scribe in a family medicine clinic. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new areas of the city. Bri also likes knitting and board game night with the Human Genetics students!
How did you decide to come to the Sarah Lawrence College’s genetic counseling program?
I loved the history of this program. As the first genetic counseling graduate program in the United States, the Joan H. Marks Graduate Program in Human Genetics has trained half of the nation’s genetic counselors. Alumni are located not only in the New York City area, but throughout the country as a whole. Being part of the Sarah Lawrence community provides students and graduates with a network larger than any other program can offer.
What tips do you have for students beginning to interview for genetic counseling programs?
Be true to who you are. You are interviewing these programs just as much as they are interviewing you. You want to be sure the program, the staff, and the current students are a good fit with who you are as a person. This will be easier to assess if you are yourself during the interview!
What was the biggest adjustment you had to make moving to New York City?
The biggest adjustment for me was going from living in a town of 4,000 people to living in such a large city. However, Sarah Lawrence College is in a great location that provides easy access to the city while still being removed from the chaos that is New York City.
