Dayna Richards is from Ontario, Canada and graduated from Queen's University with a bachelor's degree in Life Sciences and a minor in Gender Studies. As an undergraduate, Dayna sat on the Queen's Black Academic Society executive committee and helped establish the inaugural Conference on Black Scholarship, which encouraged students of colour to gain the skills and confidence to pursue their academic and professional goals. She gained counselling experience by serving as a peer support counsellor, a support volunteer coordinator and resident assistant for undergraduate students. Since graduating, Dayna has worked at a rehabilitative care clinic and as a research volunteer at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto studying women's access to prenatal care. She was drawn to UCLA for the opportunity to work alongside a diverse community and the emphasis on interdisciplinary learning. In her free time, Dayna enjoys hot yoga, trying new restaurants and watching movies.

DepartmentHuman Genetics