Mestenhauser Student Award

María Paz Ramírez López is a graduate student in the College of Biological Sciences pursuing a Ph.D. in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. María was elected as a student representative for the Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics program, becoming the first Latino and international student to serve in this role for the department. As a student representative, María acted as a liaison between students and departmental leadership and fostered community in the department. María is also a part of the Boreas Leadership team at the Institute of the Environment. In this role, she plans and leads community hours for students, faculty, and staff to discuss diverse topics that impact the community. Throughout all of her work, María promotes the perspectives of international and Latino students and encourages the inclusion of diverse voices and cultures.