Essence is a December 2022 graduate of North Carolina Central University where she received her B.S. in Biomedical and Biological Sciences. On campus, she held many leadership positions while obtaining over 300 community service hours. She was the president of the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students (MAPS) for three years. Also, while in undergrad, Essence helped start the NCCU chapter of the Medical Global Brigade which allowed for a week-long volunteer opportunity for students to virtually take part in a mobile medical clinic in a developing country, Ghana.
As an undergraduate Essence participated in the UNC Program for Precision Medicine in Health Care’s Career Exploration in Genomic Medicine Research Summer Program in 2020 which was the steppingstone for her passion for Genetics. As a Jr. Biocurator in the Berg lab, Essence is currently working with the Interstitial Lung Disease Group and plans on applying to Grad School and studying Bioinformatics.
