My name is Galina Simspon (She/Her/Hers) and I am the current Interim Career Explorations Programs Associate for Saturday Academy serving as summer administrative support for the Apprenticeship in Science & Engineering (ASE) program. I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon spending most of my childhood visiting the Oregon Zoo, OMSI, and berry picking on Sauvies Island. Even now, I spend most of my time outside, learning as much as I can about the natural world. My hobbies include fruit picking, singing, reading, and playing with my two dogs. I graduated from St. Mary’s Academy with my high school diploma in 2022. During my years in high school I was a director of the Women of Color in Action association, a social justice workshop leader, and school ambassador. Currently, I am a YouthLine Volunteer answering calls and texts from youth in crisis nationwide, a position I have held for two years. I am thrilled to be a rising Sophomore at Scripps College in Claremont, California. As an undergraduate student I am pursuing a double major in Neuroscience and Accounting. Additionally, I am the treasurer of the Pomona College Model UN Team and sit on the Scripps Investment Fund board.
My sophomore year of high school I was granted a psychoneuroimmunology internship at OHSU through the ASE program. This opportunity allowed me to see myself as a scientist for the first time while I gained first-hand experiences as well as professional connections within the field of neuroscience. As an alum of the ASE program I consider myself to be a life-long learner with an insatiable curiosity about the ways our world works. I enjoy using my skills and education to support youth empowerment through education, community, and expression.