About
Makayla Tedder is a proud native of Durham, North Carolina. She earned her BA in Psychology with a concentration in mental health from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. As a Bonner Scholar, Makayla founded a mentorship program for underrepresented high school girls, which offers guidance and scholarship support. Throughout her undergraduate career, she volunteered regularly with Atlanta Public Schools, deepening her commitment to educational equity and community engagement, and volunteered as a crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line. Makayla completed the Warren Alpert Foundation (WAF) Alliance in Genetic Counseling Internship, where she gained hands-on experience shadowing genetic counselors in pediatric, cancer, reproductive, and neurogenetics clinics across the University of Pennsylvania affiliated hospitals and clinics. This experience further fueled her passion for equitable and compassionate care. Makayla is excited to join the UCLA Genetic Counseling Program and grow as a clinician and advocate. She is committed to expanding access to genetic services in underserved communities and advocating for recognizing genetic counselors as essential healthcare providers. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering at the Humane Society, playing tennis, and hiking.