Get involved early! Hands-on experience deepens your understanding.
Surisaday N. Garcia Ruiz, now in her fourth year at UC Merced, has a powerful story of resilience and passion for public health. Her 
journey has been shaped by her experiences as an undocumented student and as a high school senior navigating the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Coming to UC Merced helped me connect with my background and sparked my desire to support other undocumented students.” This dedication led her to intern at UC Merced’s Monarch Center , a resource hub for undocumented students.
Originally set on a business degree, Surisaday shifted her focus to public health after discovering her true passion: helping communities. Her research interests grew when she worked alongside Dr. Sidra Goldman-Mellor and Dr. Alec Chan-Golston, studying the link between air quality and mental health. Later, she collaborated with Dr. Kirk Jensen on groundbreaking vaccine research. Her summer project with Dr. Alexandra Rivera-Gonzalez, examining health data in California’s Central Valley, gave her a firsthand look at the region’s pressing health issues.
Beyond research, Surisaday has served as a mentor to incoming students through the Alliance Mentorship Program and has been a dedicated advocate for undocumented students on campus. As she looks to the future, she plans to pursue a Master’s and PhD in epidemiology, with hopes of working at the CDC to tackle public health challenges on a broader scale.
Her advice to fellow students? “Get involved early! Hands-on experience deepens your understanding. And for undocumented students, remember: your voice matters. Don’t give up.”
“Don’t hesitate to reach out to your professors—they’re eager to share their knowledge”
Simone Samra’s journey into public health began close to her, in California’s Central Valley. Now in her third year as a Public Health student at UC Merced, she is dedicated to health policy, community accessibility, and women’s advocacy. “I’m grateful for the chance to highlight where I’m from, the people I represent, and my community as I grow into a public health professional.”
Her decision to attend UC Merced was driven by the university’s diverse student body and its interdisciplinary approach to public health. Despite limited early exposure to the field, Simone quickly immersed herself in learning about the connections between health, environment, and community. Interning with the Central Labor Council (CLC) gave her insight into farmworker health, while her research with Dr. Sandie Ha focused on environmental health issues in Fresno. Simone’s interest in women’s health and health literacy has led her to use her background in advocacy and graphic design to create public health campaigns, targeting gaps in education and outreach.
Beyond research, Simone is an active campus leader. She founded Kairos Dance Group, a cultural club focused on unifying the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community at UC Merced. She also co-leads a mobile medical clinic with the Vuity Care Foundation in Modesto, providing healthcare to underserved populations. One of her most impressive accomplishments is founding EmpowerHER, a nonprofit pop-up boutique offering services to the unhoused community. Simone’s next step is launching an EmpowerHER chapter at UC Merced to promote health education, facilitate discussions on women’s roles in academia, and further expand local services. Follow her program on Instagram - @empowerher209.
Simone plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Public Health with a focus on global and reproductive health, and she hopes to conduct research at UC San Francisco’s Advanced New Standards in Reproductive Health (ANIRH). She’s also committed to continuing her advocacy work in women’s health, particularly in India, with a vision of developing innovative, less invasive women’s health devices.
Simone’s advice to future public health students? “Keep an open mind. Explore as many specialties as you can and don’t hesitate to reach out to your professors—they’re eager to share their knowledge.”
“Always remember your ‘why.’
Dania Castillo Villanueva, a third-year Public Health student at UC Merced, is motivated by her desire to make her family proud. A first-generation Latina student from Sacramento, she is inspired by opportunities her family didn’t have. “I’m very family-oriented, and they inspire me every day.” Her passions for community service, professional development, and peer networking have been central to her undergraduate journey.
Dania chose UC Merced for its close-knit environment and public health research opportunities. “I appreciate the diverse career paths 
in public health, and my goal is to improve health in underrepresented communities.” Her focus areas are immigrant and mental health, inspired by Dr. Maria-Elena De Trinidad Young’s course on Latino and Immigrant Health and Dr. Sidra Goldman-Mellor’s course on Mental Illness and Public Health.
Outside the classroom, Dania’s dedication to her campus community is evident in her involvement with the Monarch Center and her leadership role as Chaplain in the Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity. Dania takes pride in these roles, helping others break generational barriers while growing both professionally and personally.
After graduating from UC Merced, Dania plans to take a gap year to gain more hands-on experience in public health through internships and volunteer work. She hopes to specialize in either epidemiology or health education as she continues her journey in graduate school.
Dania’s advice for future public health students is to “always remember your ‘why.’ There will be times when you feel overwhelmed, but it’s important to stay focused on your goals and the change you want to make in the world. We must create the brighter future we dream of.”
