Liza Armand

Liza’s path to academic success has required patience and resilience. She began her higher education at the community college level. She would consider herself an older, nontraditional student because among other things, she is a single parent and commutes from Irvine. She describes her path as “unconventional, filled with setbacks and detours.” She came to the U.S. alone as a refugee from Iran at the age of 19, and has had to support herself ever since.

She worked for several years at Trader Joe’s, but was unable to continue because of a serious injury. To enhance her opportunities, she obtained a certificate in biotechnology. However, counselors and teachers saw her academic potential and encouraged her to pursue a four-year degree. She is grateful for that support and hopes to become a mentor for other nontraditional students. 

Her interest in a career in public health is based on a desire to “help others by bridging the gap between science, healthcare, and underserved communities.” She wants to help people who struggle to navigate our health system. In that spirit, she volunteers at a psychologist’s office translating for Persian speakers.

Both language and science motivate her. She has performed spoken word pieces and written poetry, and sees no contradiction between her love of language and her passion for science, especially genetics, human psychology and public health. She believes that both domains require “careful observation, pattern recognition, and a deep desire to uncover the truth."

Her goal is a career in public health. She wants to use her education to “empower others, whether through healthcare initiatives, policy reform, or direct community engagement…where healthcare is a right, not a privilege.” Liza’s energy and perseverance will serve her well. She is enrolled in Eleanor Roosevelt College.