Valerie Collier

Valerie is from California and went to school in Pomona where she received her B.S. degree in Microbiology from California State Polytechnic University and her M.S. degree in Biomedical Science from Western University of Health Sciences. She returned to school one more time to pursue a Master’s in Genetic Counseling program at the University of Utah. Her current research project investigates the impact on volunteers of an adaptive rock climbing program for children with autism. Valerie loves the outdoors and has worked as an outdoor science educator and summer camp program director. Valerie also worked as a tobacco cessation counselor at the Yukon-Kuskokwim Regional Hospital in Bethel, Alaska promoting healthy pregnancies among Alaska Native women. She plans to continue to be an advocate for individuals with disabilities as she enters the field of genetic counseling.