{"id":228497,"date":"2025-04-16T11:51:53","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T15:51:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=228497"},"modified":"2025-04-16T11:51:53","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T15:51:53","slug":"commencement-student-speaker-spotlight-kristina-delgado","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2025\/04\/commencement-student-speaker-spotlight-kristina-delgado\/","title":{"rendered":"Commencement Student Speaker Spotlight: Kristina Delgado"},"content":{"rendered":"

Meet Kristina Delgado. She was born in Mexico City, Mexico, raised in Cuenca, Ecuador, and moved to the U.S. at 18. Growing up in a multicultural household, she developed resilience, a strong work ethic, and a deep appreciation for diversity. Seeking purpose, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln, where she achieved the highest rank within her enlistment and was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. Her military service strengthened her leadership and teamwork skills while exposing her to critical gaps in healthcare, igniting her passion for biomedical research.<\/em><\/p>\n

Why did you choose UConn and your UConn Graduate School program?<\/strong><\/p>\n

My path to UConn and the Biomedical Science Graduate School program was shaped by a fortunate opportunity to work as a technician in the Spirochete Research Laboratory at UConn School of Medicine. There, my passion for infectious disease research, particularly on Treponema pallidum<\/em>, was sparked. The hands-on experience and guidance from exceptional mentors solidified my decision to pursue further education at UConn, where I knew I could grow both academically and professionally.<\/p>\n

Tell us more about your path to grad school.<\/strong><\/p>\n

My career path began with my military service, which strengthened my leadership and teamwork skills while exposing me to critical gaps in healthcare, sparking my passion for biomedical research. Afterward, I earned my B.S. in Biological Sciences from Georgia State University, leading to an opportunity at the USDA Foreign Animal Disease Laboratory at Plum Island. There, I gained hands-on experience in virology, further fueling my interest in infectious diseases. This passion ultimately led me to work as a technician in the Spirochete Research Laboratory at UConn Health, where the mentorship of Drs. Radolf, Hawley, and Caimano solidified my decision to pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences, focusing on infectious disease research and vaccine development.<\/p>\n

What activities were you involved with as a grad student?<\/strong><\/p>\n

As a graduate student, I was fully immersed in my research, but I also made it a priority to support diversity in STEM. As an active member of the Graduate School DEI Committee, I worked alongside a dedicated team to foster an inclusive academic environment. It was incredibly rewarding to give back by mentoring and advising younger students, sharing the opportunities and experiences that shaped my own journey. Being part of something bigger\u2014helping to support and inspire the next generation of scientists\u2014was one of the most fulfilling aspects of my time at UConn.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s one thing that surprised you about UConn?<\/strong><\/p>\n

One thing that truly surprised me about UConn was how welcoming and supportive everyone is, as well as the incredible depth and diversity of research being conducted here. I wasn\u2019t sure what to expect at first, but I quickly found myself in a collaborative and inspiring community. Being in an environment driven by innovation and curiosity has made my time at UConn both enriching and rewarding.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s one thing every student should do during their time at UConn?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every student should take a moment to step beyond their research or career goals and get involved in the broader community. It\u2019s easy to fall into tunnel vision when you’re deep in academic work, but engaging in other aspects of the UConn community helps you gain perspective, connect with others, and see the bigger picture. Whether it\u2019s through mentorship, outreach, or organizations like the DEI Committee, these experiences help you grow in ways that go beyond the lab or classroom. Stepping back from the laboratory bench every now and then reminds us that we\u2019re part of something bigger\u2014and that we have so much to offer to the people and communities around us.<\/p>\n

Who has inspired you most?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I was incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by an amazing group of mentors who showed me the true impact of our work. They taught me that what we do in the lab isn\u2019t just about experiments\u2014it\u2019s about making a real difference in healthcare. Beyond my mentors, I was also blessed with the unwavering support of my family and friends, who constantly encouraged me and stood by my decision. Their belief in me kept me moving forward, reinforcing my passion and commitment to this field.<\/p>\n

What are your plans after graduation?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ah, the dreaded question! I\u2019m happy to say that I still have a deep passion for research and want to continue expanding my scientific expertise. While I don\u2019t know exactly where my career will take me\u2014whether in academia, industry, or teaching\u2014I do know that I want to bridge the gap between basic science and its real-world applications. My goal is to develop the skills needed to move into translational research, connecting fundamental discoveries with clinical trials and patient care. No matter the path I take, I want my work to have a tangible impact on healthcare and the scientific community.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s one thing that will always make you think of UConn?<\/strong><\/p>\n

One thing that will always make me think of UConn is the sense of community here. Whether it\u2019s the camaraderie among fellow students, the support from mentors, or the collaborative spirit in research, UConn has a unique way of bringing people together. It\u2019s this feeling of connection and shared purpose that I\u2019ll carry with me long after graduation.<\/p>\n

What does being a part of UConn mean to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Being a part of UConn means being part of a supportive and innovative community that fosters growth, collaboration, and inclusion. It\u2019s where I\u2019ve been able to challenge myself, advance my research, and contribute to a diverse environment. The connections I\u2019ve made here, and the shared purpose have shaped me both personally and professionally, and that\u2019s something I\u2019ll carry with me throughout my career.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s it going to be like to walk across the Commencement stage and get your degree?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Walking across the Commencement stage will be a moment of immense pride and reflection. It will mark the culmination of years of hard work, challenges, and growth. But beyond the academic achievement, it will be a moment to celebrate the support of my family, friends, mentors, and the UConn community that helped me get here. It will be a symbol of not just earning a degree, but of the journey and the people who\u2019ve shaped my path. It\u2019ll be a bittersweet farewell to this chapter, but an exciting step into the next.<\/p>\n

Any final words of wisdom for incoming students?<\/strong><\/p>\n

No matter how many roadblocks or challenges life throws your way, the key is to face them head-on, learn from them, and keep moving forward. Don\u2019t give up, and remember to enjoy the journey along the way. It\u2019s easy to get caught up in the stress, but make sure you take time to have fun, find balance, and celebrate the small wins. Growth comes from persistence, and the experience will be all the richer if you embrace both the challenges and the moments of joy.<\/p>\n

Delgado\u2019s doctoral dissertation focused on \u201cCracking the Code of Treponema pallidum Immunity: Lessons from the Rabbit Model to Drive Syphilis Vaccine Innovation.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Watch the livestream of UConn Health\u2019s 54th<\/sup> Commencement on May 12, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.<\/a> <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Delgado is a Ph.D. candidate in Biomedical Science and the Graduate School\u2019s student speaker for UConn Health\u2019s 54th Commencement on May 12, 2025 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":98,"featured_media":228519,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_crdt_document":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_series":0,"wds_primary_attribution":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2388,1868,1875,179,2233],"tags":[],"magazine-issues":[],"coauthors":[1873],"class_list":["post-228497","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-healthcare-workforce","category-meds","category-grad-school","category-uconn-health","category-university-news"],"pp_statuses_selecting_workflow":false,"pp_workflow_action":"current","pp_status_selection":"publish","acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-25 07:40:29","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228497","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/users\/98"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=228497"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228497\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":228507,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228497\/revisions\/228507"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media\/228519"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=228497"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=228497"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=228497"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-issue","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/magazine-issues?post=228497"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-rest\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=228497"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}