Dr. Ziba’s journey from community college to UCLA, Yale, and UPenn shaped her commitment to building inclusive pathways in STEM and healthcare education. In this Meet the Mentors interview, she reflects on the power of mentorship, belonging, and supporting underrepresented students as they navigate research, graduate school, and advanced careers in the sciences.

Graduate school can be freeing for students, including neurodiverse learners, who felt boxed in by traditional classrooms. That freedom shaped Dr. Charisse’s journey from overcoming challenges to earning her Ed.D. at Columbia University. Today, she mentors through Another Degree, offering graduate school admissions consulting, dissertation coaching, and career guidance. Her work centers equity, resilience, and well‑being, empowering every student to define success on their ow

Dr. Taylor, MD, MHS, brings a wealth of experience in medical education, public health research, and curriculum development to her mentorship at Another Degree. From first‑generation student to medical doctor and fellowships at Harvard and Yale, she now supports mentees with medical school admissions, residency applications, graduate programs, research, and career coaching, emphasizing resilience, presence, and equity in education.