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MAP: Alumni of Color Network

Meet the 2025 MAP Scholars

Founded in 1994, the MAP: UW Alumni of Color Network (MAP) is dedicated to promoting diversity at the UW and in the UW alumni community. These leaders address issues of equality and equity through their academic studies, mentorships, lectures/public speaking, and University community engagement.

MAP administers annual student scholarships and is proud to introduce the 2025 recipients here.

2025 MAP SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS

Portrait of Tara FreezeTara Freeze

I am pursuing my master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology at the University of Washington. My interest in the field grew through experiences working with children on the autism spectrum as well as witnessing my uncle’s journey with ALS, both of which deepened my commitment to helping others. I plan to work in a hospital setting, supporting patients and families with communication and swallowing needs.

Portrait of Deserée LaiDeserée Lai

Owen G. Lee Scholar

I am a first-generation college graduate, oceanography PhD student and mother. I have developed and scaled programs that expand undergraduate research access, a path that informs my commitment to equity in STEM. Focusing on community college and underrepresented students, I bridge my research in ocean science with advocacy for educational equity, endeavoring to strengthen pathways into STEM and expand who has a voice in shaping research.

Portrait of Fikir MelkuFikir Melku

As a student at the University of Washington pursuing a degree in Accounting, I am actively involved in NABA, MLT, and Black at Foster. I enjoy my role as a peer advisor, supporting fellow students, and I also work with the Brotherhood Initiative as a High School Peer Mentor, where I am dedicated to building community and creating opportunities for others. I’m pursuing a career in financial services and am excited to continue growing through professional experiences and mentorship.

Portrait of Jasmin Rubalcava-DuranJasmin Rubalcava-Duran

Alfredo Arreguin Scholar

I am a proud Latina and first-generation college student from Auburn, WA, shaped by the hard work and dedication of my Mexican immigrant parents. Currently, I am pursuing my Masters of Social Work in the Advanced Standing program here at the University of Washington with a specialization in Public Policy. I am truly grateful for this scholarship award and the opportunity it gives me to further my academic journey.

Portrait of Allysa Valdez RodriguezAllysa Valdez Rodriguez

Drs. Lois Price Spratlen and Thaddeus Spratlen Scholar

Hello! My name is Allysa Valdez Rodriguez, and I am a rising senior at the University of Washington studying Public Health–Global Health. Growing up Mexican American in rural Eastern Washington and now as a first-generation college student, I witnessed the challenges Spanish-speaking families face in accessing healthcare, which inspired my dream of becoming an OB/GYN. At the UW, I found community and mentorship through programs like CAMP, Unidas Seremos and Chicanos for Community Medicine, where I now have the privilege of mentoring other first-generation students. My research in primary care has deepened my commitment to advancing health equity, and I hope to return to my community as a physician dedicated to providing culturally responsive care and being the representation other young students need to imagine themselves in these spaces.

For more information about diversity issues and programs at the University of Washington, please visit the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity website.