While an undergraduate at UC Riverside, Felipe Godinez’s initial goal was to get his B.A. and move on to a full-time job. However, Godinez soon realized that a master’s degree would allow him to have a greater impact on his community and way of life. While doing research at UCR, he learned about the UC LEADS program and applied. It was through the participation of UC LEADS that his graduate career began. “UC LEADS allowed me the means to spend a summer at UC Davis do research,” says Godinez. “After that summer I knew UC Davis was the place for me. I just knew I would have a happy and cheerful graduate student experience. I also saw that the financial support was strong and stable.”

Godinez is now pursuing a Ph.D. to better represent and serve his ethnic community. The doctorate degree will provide him with a higher degree of influence as he relays the benefits of biomedical research to underprivileged communities. The education he gains will improve his service and leadership abilities.

“I have taken on this education goal because it is challenging, adventurous, and the outcome remains undetermined,” says Godinez. “To me, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – and I have everything to gain and nothing to lose.”