Hadley Bryan is a fifth-year PhD candidate in the Graduate Program in Life Sciences Human Genetics Program.

She works in the lab of Megan Rizzo, PhD, studying models of ciliopathies, diseases of the primary cilium, to better understand cellular mechanisms that contribute to Type 2 diabetes. Outside of the lab, she volunteers as a crisis counselor for Crisis Text Line. During her time at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), Bryan has served as a Graduate Student Association (GSA) program representative and is serving her second term as GSA secretary. In this role, she has worked to ensure all eligible programs have representation on GSA and collaborated with other student groups and campus offices to address students’ health care and stipend concerns. Bryan is also active at the university level, most recently working with other student leaders to form the University Student Government Association’s Equity Committee of which she was selected as co-chair. In each of these positions and as a student representative on the Diversity Advisory Council, Bryan is passionate about advocating for fellow students and ensuring that the student perspective is heard. She strongly believes that the sharing of information and experiences is integral to creating an environment in which students, faculty, and staff feel valued and included.

Prior to coming to UMB, Bryan attended North Carolina State University (NCSU), where she obtained her degree in genetics with minors in Spanish and biotechnology. Her undergraduate experience and success were shaped by the Goodnight Scholars Program, a need- and merit-based program for North Carolina residents pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and STEM education degrees at NCSU. Bryan served as a new student mentor and local high school ambassador for the program. Through these roles, she was involved in student outreach to communities and schools that were chronically underfunded. Bryan continues to be involved in the Goodnight Scholars community as an application reviewer and interviewer for incoming students and as an alumni class representative. With immeasurable gratitude for the opportunities the Goodnight Scholars Program, NCSU, and many others allowed her, Bryan is dedicated to providing others every opportunity to be supported in a community that champions equity and diversity with empathy for each person.