Sheila Menon

Sheila Menon is dedicated to advancing equitable outcomes in education and healthcare through research, community engagement, and advocacy. As president of her local chapter of Diversify Our Narrative, she has led efforts to implement diverse curricula in her district to ensure that students see themselves represented in education and that they have the opportunity to learn from perspectives different from their own. With the help of her team, Sheila has developed and taught student-made lesson plans to grades 7-12, fostering discussions on stereotypes, prejudice, microaggressions, and xenophobia. She believes inclusive education fosters within students empathy, problem-solving skills, and a long-term commitment to equity. Sheila interned with San Diego County Health and Human Services on a data disaggregation equity project and serves as Co-Chief of Partnerships at GENUp, where she secures support for student-written bills and hosts advocacy workshops. She pursued neuroscience research at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, and presented her findings on Alzheimer’s Disease at a statewide conference. Sheila will major in Neuroscience with a minor in Global Health and Health Policy at Harvard College. With support from this scholarship, she will continue to pursue work at the intersection of neurobiology, health equity, and community engagement.