Brenda Milla \u201919 (CLAS), \u201924 Ph.D. reached her fifth year of undergrad before she considered doing research \u2014 UConn, she says, taught her to never turn down an opportunity. We caught up with the Stamford native at a coffee shop in Manchester this summer, where she told us about breathing, brain cells, and why it\u2019s her dream to attend a mixed martial arts bout.<\/p>\n
Your Ph.D. advisor, Dan Mulkey, mentioned that you are a boxer.<\/strong> Why did you transfer from UConn Stamford to Storrs?<\/strong> You did a lot of volunteering in both Storrs and Stamford.<\/strong>
\nI\u2019m interested in the sport, and mixed martial arts generally. As an undergrad, I went to a boxing gym and learned Muay Thai. It\u2019s similar to kickboxing, but you can strike with your knees and elbows. In the beginning, it was to gain more confidence in myself. It brings something out of you.<\/p>\n
\nTo finish the biology major. As a first-generation college student, the transition to a large campus was more challenging than I anticipated; I didn\u2019t do so well. My initial year was a whirlwind of adjustment, especially after caring for an uncle and grandmother who eventually lost their battles with cancer. I took additional classes that weren\u2019t required, and I wasn\u2019t familiar with add-drop. I knew this was not reflective of my capabilities. I could have graduated fourth year, but I decided to stay a fifth year. My major was MCB, and I\u2019d pretty much taken all the MCB courses, so first semester fifth year I took PNB cardiorespiratory physiology. That\u2019s when I met Dan [Mulkey] \u2014 it changed my life.<\/p>\n
\nI grew up speaking Spanish at home. As an undergrad, I began interpreting at a free clinic in Stamford. In Storrs I volunteered with Windham Hospital, the Collegiate Health Service Corps, and Covenant Soup Kitchen. I also gave presentations to migrant farm workers at their lunch space. I\u2019m not much of a public speaker \u2014 it was quite scary!<\/p>\n