Patient Navigators
Timothy Ahn
Timothy is a biology major on the pre-medical track. His future aspiration is to become a pediatric anesthesiologist. He loves working alongside families and children to empower them to thrive. Timothy is honored to join the Preschool and Me team to support families and make a difference in their lives. Read more
Sreehi Bellamkonda
Sreehi is a Psychology major at UIC on the pre-med track with aspirations of becoming a physician. She is drawn to work that centers on supporting children and strengthening families. By joining Preschool and Me, she is excited to engage in meaningful community work, connect with families, and contribute to a nurturing environment for early childhood development. Read more
Denise Carreto-Munoz
Denise is a recent UIC graduate, majoring in neuroscience. She plans to attend medical school to pursue surgery. Denise is very excited to be part of the team and help families receive the proper resources to be successful.
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Caroline Cotto
Caroline Cotto holds a BA in Applied Psychology with a minor in Sociology from the University of Illinois Chicago. She plans to pursue a PhD in Clinical Psychology, focusing on youth mental health, community-based care, and marginalized populations. Caroline is passionate about advocacy and equity in mental health, working to ensure that underserved families are supported and every child has access to the resources they need to thrive. Read more
Sereen Hassaballa
Sereen is a student at UIC majoring in Integrated Health Studies with a minor in Human Nutrition. Sereen aspires and plans to attend medical school to specialize in pediatric anesthesia as she loves working with kids and has great experience. She is dedicated to making a purposeful impact and hopes to support and make a difference in the lives of the families and children she will work with by connecting them with the resources they need to flourish! Read more
Shloka Jain
Shloka is a student at UIC majoring in Integrated Health Studies on the pre-medicine track. She hopes to pursue a career in pediatric neurology. Shloka loves working with children and is passionate about giving back to the community in any way she can. She is excited to be part of the Preschool and Me team and looks forward to supporting families and making a meaningful impact. Read more
Sean Juarez
Sean is a student at UIC majoring in Applied Psychology and minoring in Biology. His academic interests include clinical psychology, neuropsychology and really anything else that has to do with the brain. He is planning on either pursuing a doctorate-level degree in clinical psychology or attending medical school to become a psychiatrist. He is passionate about mental health and hoping to help improve the mental healthcare system as a whole. He is excited to be a part of the Preschool and Me team because he loves working directly with families and helping them get the support they need! Read more
Anvi Shevade
Anvi is a UIC student majoring in integrated health studies and minoring in public health on the pre-medicine track. She hopes to pursue a career that integrates public health and medicine. Anvi loves interacting with diverse community groups and is passionate about giving back. She is excited to join the Preschool and Me team to better understand the local systems and make navigation easier for families. Read more
Valeria Silva
Valeria is a recent psychology graduate from UIC. She is passionate about providing bilingual therapy services; she aspires to become part of the system that promotes well-being for those struggling with mental health. Valeria is excited to become a PN, offering the support that families need by providing comprehensive care and guidance during critical moments. Read more
Samantha Torres
Samantha is a UIC student majoring in integrated health science and minoring in Spanish for the Professions. She is on the pre-med track and plans on attending medical school to become a pediatrician. Samantha is excited to join Preschool and Me because she wants to connect with and support families in her community, inspired by her own personal experiences growing up. Read more
Risa Gajendran
Risa graduated from UIC with a major in Applied Psychology and a double minor in Sociology and Biological Sciences. She plans to pursue a master's degree in clinical or developmental psychology after graduation. She works as an RBT to provide ABA therapy for children with Autism. Risa is excited to join the team and is passionate about making resources accessible for children and their families! Read more
Michelle Keung
Michelle graduated from UIC with a major in Psychology. She has over 3 years of experience working in childcare, ranging from infants to school-aged children. She aspires to pursue a path to become a pediatric speech pathologist and work with families to advocate for their children. Michelle is very excited to be a part of the Preschool and Me team, and hopes to use the skills learned to further her knowledge in supporting children and families. Read more
Dr. Elizabeth Cambray-Engstrom
Dr. Elizabeth Cambray-Engstrom has spent over two decades supporting children and their families across early intervention, early childhood, and elementary education, with particular expertise in bilingual and special education. Her work centers on family collaboration, advocacy, and educational assessment. She is deeply committed to equitable, relationship-based practices and is genuinely inspired by the meaningful work the Preschool and Me team is doing to strengthen supports for families. Read more
Siya Patel
Siya graduated from UIC with a major in Psychology, having been on the pre-pharmacy track. In the future, she plans to pursue pediatric pharmacology. She is very passionate about helping families and children and is very excited to join the Preschool and Me team. Read more
Jena Kuli
Jena graduated from UIC with a major in Biology and a minor in Gender and Women's Studies. She was on the pre-med track and hopes to attend medical school with strong interests in maternal and women's health, as well as pediatrics. She is excited to be a part of this team of hardworking professionals and is eager to help families seeking support in obtaining child services and school-based therapies. Read more
Ayla Shakir
Ayla graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago with a major in Psychology and a minor in Business Administration. She is interested in child development, mental health, and community-based care. Ayla has experience supporting families through research, education, and community outreach, and is passionate about assisting families in accessing the resources and services they deserve. She is excited to join the Preschool & Me team and contribute to research and efforts that strengthen support systems for families during early childhood. Read more
Brynne Darden
Brynne graduated with a B.S. in Biological Science and a minor in Business Management from Hampton University. She will be attending The University of Chicago to obtain her PhD in Cancer Biology. Brynne aspires to focus on cancer epigenetic treatment, targeting the molecular, environmental, and social components contributing to health disparities and inequities. Read more
Julian Reyna
Julian graduated from UIC with a major in Neuroscience and is passionate about public health and early childhood education. He has spent over two years working with children as a gymnastics instructor, further deepening his dedication to early learning. Julian looks forward to continuing to support families and making a positive difference one system at a time. Read more
Jasmin Flores
Jasmin is currently completing her master's in social work at UIC. Jasmin has experience in daycare, medical and research settings. She is passionate about assisting immigrant and Latino families with addressing barriers to care. She is excited to be part of the Preschool and Me team. Read more
Janellie Flores
Janellie graduated from UIC with a major in Integrated Health Studies and was on the pre-nursing track. Her ultimate goal is to become a Pediatric Oncology Nurse Practitioner and make a difference in the lives of children and their families. Janellie is honored to be a part of Preschool and Me to start making a difference in the lives of children. Read more
Carolina Jimenez
Carolina is a recent UIC graduate with a Biology major on the Pre-Medical track. She aspires to attend medical school and become a pediatric trauma surgeon. Carolina is excited to be a part of this project to help children receive the proper education and resources that they need at a young age. Read more
Kayla Hieras
Kayla graduated from UIC with a major in Integrated Health Studies and a double minor in Psychology and Medical Humanities. Kayla hopes to pursue medical school in the near future and eventually continue her work in the pediatric field. Read more
Natalia Matula
Natalia graduated from UIC with a major in Integrated Health Studies and minors in Psychology and Human Nutrition. Her future career aspiration is to become a doctor. She has always had a passion for helping individuals with special needs and disabilities, and worked as a Behavioral Therapist and a Certified Medical Assistant at Advocate. Natalia is very excited to help families by connecting them to the resources their children need to succeed! Read more
Ryan Borum
Ryan is a recent UIC graduate with a major in Applied Psychology and a minor in Biology. Ryan's goal is to become a pediatrician, which is why she was excited to work on this project. This project was very beneficial for families, and she was excited to work with this team and help people receive the resources they need. Read more
Zain Mohammad
Zain graduated from UIC with a bachelor's in Psychology and started law school in fall 2026. In the future, he wants to help organizations like Preschool & Me in creating a better education system for future generations. Read more
Adil Lokhandwala
Adil graduated from UIC with a major in Applied Psychology. He is infatuated with the human mind and will use this curiosity in medicine to become a Child Psychiatrist. Adil is jubilant to join this team and hopes to make a difference in families' lives. Adil has since been accepted into Indiana University's Urban Medicine program. Read more
Diya Patel
Diya graduated from UIC with a major in Psychology and double minors in Biology and Kinesiology. She was on the pre-physician assistant track with a goal of working in pediatric care. She is passionate about reducing barriers to care and ensuring families have the resources they need to support their child's development and well-being. Read more
Rashida Peshawarwala
Rashida graduated from UIC with a major in Integrated Health Studies and was on the pre-dental track. She is passionate about delivering health equity to kids, especially because she has a strong interest in working with kids in the future. Rashida's goal is to become a pediatric dentist who advocates for accessible care and community health. She is very excited to be a part of this team, and she hopes she can do her part in bridging the gap and supporting children's growth and development needs. Read more
Marsha Francois
Marsha is a recent graduate of Florida International University, where she earned her Ed.S. in School Psychology. Marsha is passionate about supporting children's social-emotional and academic development through culturally responsive and evidence-based practices. She is excited to join the Preschool & Me team and looks forward to contributing to a nurturing environment where all children and families feel seen, supported, and empowered. Read more
Aritzy Herrera
Aritzy graduated from UIC with a major in Integrated Health Studies and a minor in Nutrition. She was on the pre-med track and hopes to work in a pediatric specialty. Aritzy hopes to take what she has learned helping families at Preschool and Me into consideration when working with families in the future. Read more
Valeria Becerra-Chavez
Valeria graduated from UIC with a major in Biology and was on the Pre-Medical track. She aspires to attend medical school and become a developmental-behavioral pediatrician. She is excited to support families and their children and connect them to the resources they need to promote their growth and development. Read more
Lynn Idriss
Lynn is a recent UIC graduate with a major in biology and on the pre-medicine track. She plans to attend medical school and become a physician. Lynn is a strong advocate for families and children, especially interested in empowering them and assisting them in accessing medical and educational services. Lynn is excited to be a part of Preschool and Me and to support families and their children. Read more
Haleigh Lusinski
Haleigh is a recent UIC graduate majoring in psychology and minoring in philosophy. She plans to pursue a master's degree in counseling, as well as a PhD in Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis on families and couples. Haleigh is excited to join the Preschool and Me team and provide families with the services they need to better their child's educational experiences. She hopes to apply these skills in her future role as a therapist. Read more
Simrah Wahabuddin
Simrah is a Psychology major with a double minor in Business Administration and Disability Inclusion. Her career goals involve pursuing a doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She works as a Registered Behavior Technician to provide ABA therapy to children with Autism. She is excited to advocate for families to receive proper resources that can help kids reach their full potential! Read more
Lissette Barraza Mejia
Lissette graduated from UIC in December 2024 with a major in Applied Psychology. She hopes to attend Jane Addams to become a social worker. Lissette is excited to contribute to and be part of the Preschool and Me team, helping families get the resources they need so their child's educational needs are met. Read more