For AnnaMarie Oshiokpekhai a student at, the ÍƼöÐÓ°ÉÔ´´, the University provides more than an education. It is her future in medicine and a place where she can make a difference. A biology major on track to attend medical school, Oshiokpekhai is deeply committed to using her education to help others — a drive that has fueled her extensive involvement on and off campus.
Oshiokpekhai mostly grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada where she graduated from Bishop Gorman High School. Oshiokpekhai chose to attend the University because of its unique opportunities for pre-med students, allowing her to engage in hands-on training with innovative technology. Working with human cadavers is Oshiokpekhai’s favorite highlight as this unique opportunity for undergraduate students is not offered in most institutions. The foundation she has built through her courses has further encouraged Oshiokpekhai's passion for assisting others. As she finishes her third year, she reflects on her work on campus and how her sense of belonging made it possible to make a difference.
Even before stepping onto campus for her first semester, Oshiokpekhai had already landed her first internship through ASUN (Associated Students of the University of Nevada). That early experience set the stage for her continuing involvement, eventually leading her to serve as the current director of IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility) for ASUN. She’s also an active member of Phi Delta Epsilon, the medical fraternity on campus, and volunteers at several organizations, including Renown Hospital, a first-generation tutor and a dissection assistant for anatomy labs.
Oshiokpekhai’s involvement extends beyond the Reno community. She’s also the vice president of Little Footprints, Big Steps, a non-profit organization focused on ending orphanage tourism in Haiti by reuniting Haitian children with their families. Oshiokpekhai shares, “Little Footprints, Big Steps gives me an international sense of empathy that I think is an important quality for medical professionals to have." She continues, "This cause is very close to my heart. We’re not just helping children; we’re helping rebuild family connections that have been lost.”
With a packed schedule, Oshiokpekhai's approach to life and work is, “If it needs to get done, it'll get done.” Oshiokpekhai understands this level of involvement is not for everyone but shared that it is the secret to her success.
“I try not to be overwhelmed looking at my to-do list, I kind of just start hacking away at it,” she continues. "If you care and you want to, don’t be downtrodden by other people saying you can’t or you shouldn’t. Just do it."
Oshiokpekhai’s work ethic has been a great success both academically and professionally.
Oshiokpekhai’s time with ASUN has been one of the highlights during her experience at the University. Starting as an intern in her freshman year, she since got involved in the different sectors they offer. Oshiokpekhai even gained experience with ASUN as a club commissioner, this led her even further into her involvelemt within ASUN. Oshiokpekhai mentioned that ASUN President Dawson Deal recommended she apply for the director of IDEA position.
“I thought about it, and I was like, well, I already have experience with multicultural diversity groups; it would just be doing that, but on a bigger scale, is how I looked at it, and the difference between IDEA and clubs and orgs is, the IDEA budget that comes in from the ASUN budget is at the discretion of the director of IDEA, whatever events you want to host are whatever events you can come up with, so that kind of freedom and creativity to find the gaps in anything that falls under inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility was really appealing to me because it meant I could actually solve problems,” she said.
After presenting her plans before the senate, which included a budget increase for her department so they could host more events, the senate was impressed with Oshiokpekhai's new ideas and appointed her as director of IDEA. "It’s really important to expose people to different cultures and values, especially at this age, before they go out into the real world," she said.
Oshiokpekhai reimagined the department by introducing several new events during the fall semester alone including World Tourism Day, Diwali and more.
“I remember when we were planning our Diwali celebration, I talked to a student who is Indian, and she said that she hadn't been able to celebrate Diwali since she came to college because there was nowhere to celebrate it,” Oshiokpekhai said, noting that there were over 100 students in attendance at this year's event.
Oshiokpekhai further explains, “That bolsters me to make sure it actually gets done and comes to fruition.”
Oshiokpekhai reminds us that we all have a role to play — that every person has unique talents, skills, potential and heartfelt passions. These personal assets are the reason why each of us has something special to contribute toward the betterment of any community of which we are a part.
She urges all incoming students, no matter their background, to get involved and become a part of the University community.
“For students coming from marginalized backgrounds or students who are coming up here thinking they are not as good as other students, don't compare yourself to other people. You know yourself, and if you don't, you are finding yourself, so you just got to try because good things happen when you try," she said.
For those who are hesitant to get involved, especially students from underrepresented backgrounds, Oshiokpekhai advises, “If you have an interest in something, no matter how niche you think it is, don't be afraid to get out there.”
