Multicultural Alumni Partnership
Meet the 2023 MAP Scholars
Founded in 1994, the Multicultural Alumni Partnership (MAP) is dedicated to promoting diversity at the UW and in the UW alumni community, and are leaders in addressing issues of equality and equity through scholarships, mentoring, lectures and University community engagement.
MAP is open to everyone; the only qualification is a passion for diversity and social justice.
MAP administers a number of awards and scholarships, and are proud to introduce the 2023 recipients here.
2023 MAP SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Edith Dale
Hello! My name is Edith Dale, and I am a current first-year master’s student in the UW School of Public Health’s global health program. I recently graduated from the UW with a bachelor’s in medical anthropology and global health. My journey into the field of global health was ignited by my multicultural background, having grown up with a blend of Kenyan, Korean and British heritage. This diverse heritage has provided me with a profound appreciation for the rich tapestry of cultures, experiences and perspectives that make up our global community.
Throughout my life, I have witnessed the stark inequities that plague our world, particularly during my years living in Kenya. These experiences have fueled my commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as guiding principles in my academic and personal pursuits. My passions within the realm of global health are centered on maternal and child health, as well as nutrition, with a deep-seated belief that these areas hold the potential to truly transform lives and communities.
As a first-generation student and a single mother, I understand the importance of resilience and determination in overcoming challenges. During my undergraduate years at UW, I co-founded the Non-Traditional Student Association, a platform aimed at providing support to fellow undergraduate students facing similar hurdles. Additionally, I have dedicated myself to mentoring other students of color, and I am eager to continue this mission in my ongoing academic journey. As a graduate student, I am excited to further my education, deepen my commitment to advancing global health equity, and continue my advocacy for a more inclusive and compassionate world.
Yasmin Garfias
Owen G. Lee Scholar
My name is Yasmin Garfias (she/her). I am a first-generation college graduate who earned a B.A. in psychology in 2021. Pursuing a degree in psychology allowed me to delve into the intricacies of the human mind and behavior. Throughout my undergraduate journey, I had the opportunity to work with members of the RISE Mental Health lab under Dr. Dorsey to research equity in community mental health and evidence-based treatments for children and adolescents. I gained valuable experience in understanding equitable care and the importance of cultural awareness.
After graduating, I made the decision to further my education at the UW, where I am currently pursuing a master’s in special education with an emphasis on applied behavior analysis (ABA). This specialization resonated with me because it combines my fascination with psychology and my desire to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Growing up, I was acutely aware of the historical and cultural burdens my family carried as Mexican and Indigenous Americans. Their experiences fueled my desire to contribute to a more inclusive and equitable environment while supporting individuals through ABA.
El Cruz Lara
Alfredo Arreguin Scholar
My name is El Cruz Lara (he/they). I am a junior at the University of Washington studying medical anthropology in hopes of becoming a professor and researcher one day. I want to use my biography as a voice for the people who may not have received this scholarship but are clearly in need, just as I am. We live in a system where students on financial aid have to spill their darkest secrets to be considered for an education. Many bright individuals, including my family, will never have access to education.
I am very grateful for this scholarship. At the end of the day, it helps tremendously to create a dynamic in my life that gives me more financial security. This fight for education becomes draining; having to explain aspects of your life that wealthier people can pick and choose who is deserving is a broken system. Everyone is deserving of education, but not everyone can be funded by the system because the system was never truly made to help students in poverty. Thus, there is a level of excitement when marginalized groups can get out of poverty. It’s seen as achieving the impossible by many. Scholarships help close this gap, but I would like everyone to know we shouldn’t shield our eyes and that this is enough to help bridge this gap. There were hundreds of applications, meaning hundreds of students were in need. I hope someone reading this will understand more about why we need to work on bridging the gap in education, if only a little.
Kristina Montero-Duong
Hello! My name is Kristina Montero-Duong (she/her), and I am from Bellingham, Washington. I am a first-generation half-Hispanic and half-Vietnamese daughter of two immigrants. I am a third-year undergraduate student majoring in social welfare, with intended minors in diversity and human rights. My parents never experienced education past the fifth grade because of financial responsibilities. Because of this, my parents always stressed the importance of higher education even though we knew we couldn’t afford it.
Growing up, my family and I faced many economic and social barriers. We would get a lot of support from social workers in our community who advocated for us by translating, offering job training, and guiding us to better resources for food and health care. These experiences led me to pursue my passion for working with communities, specifically families and children. I hope to use my cultural awareness and learned humility, with the training from the social welfare major, to sharpen my professional skills as I am determined to help individuals and families make the most of their abilities and empower them to be the best versions of themselves. I believe that everyone deserves a fair chance to succeed, regardless of their background or circumstances, and I am committed to making a positive impact on the world around me.
John Williams Jr.
Drs. Lois Price Spratlen and Thaddeus Spratlen Scholar
Hi! My name is John Williams Jr (he/him). I am a first-year doctor of physical therapy student in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at the UW. I am the first of three siblings born to parents with African American, Native American and Caucasian ancestry. I’ve lived in Idaho, Tacoma and various neighborhoods in the greater Seattle area.
Having gone through a number of hardships in my life — from bouts of unstable housing, to my parents’ divorce, to having my father in a coma for months after an aneurysm — I know firsthand how harsh the world can seem at times. Often, setbacks are made to seem worse than they actually are, and you always have opportunities to make your situation better. Friendliness and compassion can be like shining beacons toward improvement. Witnessing something compassionate makes the world seem like a better place, and doing something compassionate actually makes the world a better place. With this in mind, I plan to use my education to provide for the healthcare and basic needs of the unhoused community in the Seattle area. I hope to address such an issue with an understanding informed by my lived experience.
For more information about diversity issues and programs at the University of Washington, please visit the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity website.
