When she was only 4, Roxana Chicas 16N 20G crossed the Rio Grande on her mother’s shoulders, seeking a better life in the United States. Today she is a nurse scientist at Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing. Along the way, she found inspiration from her mom, community, and a doctor she worked for. She’s researching the effects of record-breaking heat on farm workers and offering solutions to keep them safe. And that’s just one way she’s advocating for Latinx communities.

Emil’ Keme, Indigenous scholar and activist, shares the journey from his Maya ancestral lands to his role as a professor of English at Emory. He is reclaiming history by challenging assumptions and bringing an Indigenous perspective to literature, environmental justice, and social movements. Plus, he offers a list of must-reads from Indigenous authors.

From athletes receiving compensation to schools withdrawing from conferences, college sports are changing. Keiko Price, associate vice president of Campus Life and Clyde Partin Sr. Director of Athletics at Emory, takes a look at how the current state of play will affect the future of college athletics. Plus, Price shares how her experience as a former NCAA Division I athlete helps her improve Emory students’ well-being through sports and recreation.

Jada Bussey-Jones 88C 92M, professor of medicine at Emory, discusses the importance of diversity in medicine to address health disparities. When her grandparents passed away from preventable conditions, she was motivated to become a physician. As a Black woman, she struggled to find her place in academic medicine until she found a mentor. Now she’s creating pathways for students and physicians and ensuring a diverse workforce that better represents the real world.

Rachel Harmon 19G 23G knows firsthand the importance of finding community for autistic students. As a first-generation student with autism, Harmon struggled to find her place at Emory until she tapped into resources the Emory Autism Center offered. Now as a visiting professor at Emory’s Oxford College, she provides valuable insights so more neurodivergent students can have the support they need to thrive.

For all students to truly flourish, they must feel a sense of belonging and community. As director of Emory’s Office of LGBT Life, Danielle Bruce-Steele is fostering an inclusive culture for gay, trans, and non-binary students. She says that by expanding safe spaces and creating student-centered programming, everyone can feel seen, heard, and supported. And she encourages the Emory community to celebrate our progress while also pushing for more inclusivity.