Noemi Fernandez: Seeking Social Justice for Minorities

Share On Social!

Why do social injustices occur?

Noemi Fernandez, who is interested in tackling the reasons for social justice issues, desires to improve health and empower the Latino community.

Fernandez is a first-generation Mexican-American bilingual student. She grew up in a predominantly low-income Latino community.

With the guidance and support of her older sister and parents who taught her pride in their Latino culture, she gained experience in social work and started working on mental health issues, particularly sexual trauma, among minority groups.

She earned her MSW, too.

Fernandez also applied for the Éxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program, which recruits 25 master’s-level students and professionals for a five-day Summer Institute to promote doctoral degrees and careers studying Latino cancer. Éxito! is led by Dr. Amelie G. Ramirez at UT Health San Antonio, with support from the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Before attending the Exito! Summer Institute, Fernandez wasn’t sure if she would pursue a doctoral degree.

She is sure she will now.

“I think [Éxito!] encouraged me to seriously consider applying to a doctoral program,” Fernandez said. “I was leaning toward not applying and after hearing the last speaker, who shares the same educational background as me, I am considering applying for a doctoral program in the next 3-5 years.”

Editor’s Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2016 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now.