Brenda Milla ’19 (CLAS), ’24 Ph.D. reached her fifth year of undergrad before she considered doing research — UConn, she says, taught her to never turn down an opportunity. We caught up with the Stamford native at a coffee shop in Manchester this summer, where she told us about breathing, brain cells, and why it’s her dream to attend a mixed martial arts bout.

Your Ph.D. advisor, Dan Mulkey, mentioned that you are a boxer.
I’m interested in the sport, and mixed martial arts generally. As an undergrad, I went to a boxing gym and learned Muay Thai. It’s similar to kickboxing, but you can strike with your knees and elbows. In the beginning, it was to gain more confidence in myself. It brings something out of you.

Why did you transfer from UConn Stamford to Storrs?
To finish the biology major. As a first-generation college student, the transition to a large campus was more challenging than I anticipated; I didn’t do so well. My initial year was a whirlwind of adjustment, especially after caring for an uncle and grandmother who eventually lost their battles with cancer. I took additional classes that weren’t required, and I wasn’t familiar with add-drop. I knew this was not reflective of my capabilities. I could have graduated fourth year, but I decided to stay a fifth year. My major was MCB, and I’d pretty much taken all the MCB courses, so first semester fifth year I took PNB cardiorespiratory physiology. That’s when I met Dan [Mulkey] — it changed my life.

You did a lot of volunteering in both Storrs and Stamford.
I grew up speaking Spanish at home. As an undergrad, I began interpreting at a free clinic in Stamford. In Storrs I volunteered with Windham Hospital, the Collegiate Health Service Corps, and Covenant Soup Kitchen. I also gave presentations to migrant farm workers at their lunch space. I’m not much of a public speaker — it was quite scary!

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