Masengo Nkuili

Masengo Nkuili s a junior majoring in Physiology and Neurobiology with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies, following a pre-med track. Her career aspiration is to advocate for better childcare and support services for young immigrant children and those from marginalized communities. To further this goal, she has gained hands-on experience working with children through volunteer work at the 4-H Vernon Kids afterschool program. Currently, she is pursuing an Early Childhood Specialization certification, which involves directly engaging with children in lab settings and enhancing my understanding of child development through specialized coursework. Additionally, she has participated in the PNB Undergraduate Seminar in the Kanadia Lab, where over three semesters, she closely studied the angpt2 gene and its role in limb development, conducting experiments on the forelimbs and hindlimbs of Mus musculus. Her volunteer work extends to Hartford Healthcare, where she has worked alongside patients, nurses, and doctors in various hospital departments. Throughout my undergraduate years, she has developed a keen interest in how social determinants influence healthcare access and delivery, particularly within underrepresented communities. She is now engaged in an independent study examining how public health strategies address health challenges stemming from environmental issues and other factors in Kenya and several African countries. In her free time, she is also a part of a new founded club called UConn Melanin Mind and Soul, which primarily focuses on educating Black students on the importance of mental health and diminishing its associated stigma. Her primary interests lie in mental health, healthcare in underserved communities, and children’s health, with a strong focus on improving the wellbeing of marginalized populations.