Uma Nicole

About Uma

• I grew up in inner-city Los Angeles, California.
• I come from a culture with deep-rooted values in typical gender norms, but I was more interested in what my mind could do if it was given the opportunity—I was determined to pursue my education.
• In college, I majored in mathematics and minored in gender studies—I did a lot of research on intercultural competency in the hard sciences during my undergraduate studies.
• Inspired by the values of my Indigenous family, I founded Urban Community Garden Collective, which transforms vacant lots in Los Angeles into gardens for a variety of educational and vocational uses.
• My interests also led me to question concepts of morality in medicine, so I decided to pursue a master’s degree in bioethics at Loyola Marymount University.
• Fueled by my interest in applied ethics, I currently do work with diversity, equity, and inclusion, incarcerated populations, human rights, and more.