Tara Marashi

Tara was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology. During her time at UC Santa Cruz, she was a camp counselor at Camp Kesem, working with a team of volunteers to plan and carry out a week-long summer camp for children affected by a parent’s cancer. Tara also volunteered with the UCLA Health CORE Kidney Program, engaging in patient advocacy and outreach, participating in research, and developing educational presentations on kidney disease. After graduating, Tara joined the Cancer Genetics team at UCLA as a genetic counseling assistant. In this role, she has supported patients navigating their genetic counseling journeys and helped launch programs like the Genetic Testing Station, which increases the accessibility of genetic testing for patients diagnosed with cancer. Tara is excited to start her journey at UCLA's genetic counseling program, and is looking forward to collaborating with a diverse group of students and faculty to advance her knowledge and contribute to the field. In her free time, Tara enjoys staying active by taking boxing classes, playing soccer, and hiking. She also loves going to the beach and spending time with her friends and family.

Department: Human Genetics