Dayanara Padilla
Dayanara Padilla is a third-year student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program. She previously obtained her bachelor’s in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern University, where she had the opportunity to work in a research lab investigating mental health and psychiatric treatment among Mexican-American youth. She also worked in a developmental psychology lab, examining how children understand their intersectional identities. This academic experience, along with her personal experiences, drew her to the Puentes program. After graduating, she plans to work in a high-need school to give back to the community and make a positive impact.
She currently serves as one of two third-year interns in the Puentes Fellowship.