Holland Whitaker, ’27
Pronouns: she/her
Email: hewhitaker@uncg.edu
B.S. Neuroscience, Florida State University (2023)
Hi! My name is Holland Whitaker, and I am originally from Elon, North Carolina, a town just down the road from UNCG. I attended Florida State University (FSU), where I majored in behavioral neuroscience and minored in chemistry. During my undergraduate career, I served as an undergraduate teaching assistant for introductory biology classes, taught a freshman-level class designed to help freshmen adjust to university life, tutored for the Tallahassee school system, and worked as a research assistant in a Cognitive Psychology/Neuroscience lab at FSU. Based on my enjoyment of my undergraduate experiences, I knew I wanted a career in science, but I still hadn’t found the perfect career for me. After shadowing a genetic counselor for the first time post-grad, I was drawn to the unique relationship between genetic counselors and their patients. Following this experience, I knew that I wanted to become a genetic counselor myself, so that I could create this unique relationship with patients, too.
After graduating from FSU in the Spring of 2023, I started my first gap year position as the lab manager of the Cognitive Psychology/Neuroscience lab, where I performed undergraduate research, and I volunteered as a soccer coach for children with special needs. During my second gap year, I decided I wanted to get more hands-on genetic counseling experience, so I became a Genetic Counseling Assistant at the University of Florida (UF) Pediatric Genetics Department. During this time, I was also a volunteer math tutor for a child with Down syndrome, a student ambassador for the United Multiple Sulfatase Deficiency Foundation, a volunteer crisis counselor at Crisis Textline, and I shadowed multiple genetic counselors at UF.
Some of my favorite things are long outdoor walks, traveling, reading, learning new things, FSU football (when we are good), and fun snacks. I really enjoy working with students and speaking to anyone interested in genetic counseling in general, so I would love to speak with any prospective students. Please reach out if you have any questions about my experience at UNCG, the UNCG LEND program, or applications in general.