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Graduate Students 

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Alexandra Martinez

LMU Bioethics Institute Graduate Student 

Alex Martinez is a first-year graduate student at the Bioethics institute. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Neuroscience from UCLA in 2020 and worked as an AmeriCorps Health Fellow as a care coordinator at the Los Angeles Christian Health Center’s Joshua Clinic in Skid Row following graduation. Alex also works as a Graduate Assistant at the Institute. Her interest in the intersection of philosophy and science led her to pursue Bioethics.

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Hannah Chaddha

LMU Bioethics Institute Graduate Student 

Hannah Chaddha is a second year student based out of Chicago Illinois. Hannah is a first year master’s candidate at the LMU Bioethics Institute. She graduated from University of Illinois at Chicago with a B.S. in Biological Studies and a minor in Spanish. Hannah also works as the Bioethics Institute's Craves Impact Fellow, tasked with measuring the impact of campus events and outreach. 

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Leo Mendoza 

LMU Bioethics Institute Graduate Student 

Leo is a second year graduate student at the Bioethics Institute and Senior Administrative Coordinator for the Huffington Ecumenical Institute and Interfaith Programs at LMU. He completed an M.A. in Theology at LMU and wrote his thesis under the direction of Dr. Nancy Pineda-Madrid, T. Marie Chair in Catholic Theology and Dr. Cecilia Gonzalez-Andrieu, Professor of Theological Aesthetics and Theological Studies who also served as the second reader. Leo has presented papers at graduate conferences at LMU and the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life at Boston College. He has essays published in Say Something Theological (Graduate Journal) and the Journal of Hispanic/Latino Theology.

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Alexis Harris

LMU Bioethics Institute Graduate Student 

Alexis is a second year graduate student of the LMU Bioethics Institute. She received her B.A. from Loyola Marymount University in 2021 in Women's and Gender Studies.

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Symeon Yee

LMU Bioethics Institute Graduate Student 

Symeon is graduate student studying for the certificate program in Bioethics. Symeon is a chaplain for U.S.C. and led an initiative for trained volunteers to be with dying patients at the end of life, so they don't have to be alone.

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Ava Lekander 

LMU Bioethics Institute Graduate Student 

Ava Lekander grew up in Anchorage, Alaska before attending Loyola Marymount University for her undergraduate education. She graduated with a B.S. in Biology and a Minor in Jewish Studies. Ava became interested in Bioethics after learning of the history of physician mistreatment and abuse of minority populations. Ava plans to attend medical school and hopes to specialize in Obstetrics and Gynecology using her knowledge of Bioethics to provide the best care possible to her future patients.   

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Brianna Feld

LMU Bioethics Institute Graduate Student 

With a Bachelors of Science in Biological Science: Option in Molecular Cell Biology & Physiology and a Minor in Chemistry from California State University, Long Beach, Brianna now pursues her Masters in Bioethics as a second year graduate Student. Brianna's work in stem cell research drives her growing interest for bioethics.

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Trevor McCarthy

LMU Bioethics Institute Graduate Student 

Trevor is a first year graduate student at the Bioethics Institute. He graduated from UCLA in 2022 with a B.S. in Biology. He is passionate about ethics at the end of life, public policy surrounding pharmaceuticals, and the intersection of medicine and philosophy. After he graduates, Trevor hopes to attend medical school and apply what he has learned at the Bioethics Institute.

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Carrie Kohler

LMU Bioethics Institute Graduate Student 

Born and raised on the east coast, Carrie Kohler attended Gordon College on the northshore of Massachusetts for her undergraduate in Biblical and Theological Studies. Carrie also has a Master of Philosophy in Intercultural Theology and Interreligious Studies from the Irish School of Ecumenics at Trinity College Dublin. Carrie works as a hospital chaplain and is very interested in the intersection of spirituality, religion, ethics and healthcare.

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Larenza Elbert

LMU Bioethics Institute Graduate Student 

Larenza Elbert is a graduate student of the LMU Bioethics Institute. She received her Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from the University of Alabama. Larenza's volunteer work in the clinical setting acted as a catalyst for her interest in biomedical ethics.

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Flavius Rusu 

LMU Bioethics Institute Graduate Student 

Flavius Rusu is a second-year graduate student at the Bioethics Institute and the Craves Fellowship Scholar. He graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.S degrees in Philosophy and Psychology. Flavius is passionate about ethical issues that arise as unprecedented technologies making their way into the realm of medicine.

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Martha Amador

LMU Bioethics Institute Graduate Student 

Martha Amador, a University of La Verne alumna with a Bachelors of Science in Sociology now pursues her Masters in Bioethics as a second year graduate student at LMU. Martha's focus on social work fuels her passion for ethical questions and how they might better the lives of people in our community.

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Christopher Iloha 

LMU Bioethics Institute Graduate Student 

Christopher Iloha is a second year graduate student of the LMU Bioethics Institute. 

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