Karla Herrera
Liberal Arts and Sciences'26
About
Karla Herrera is a senior Biological Sciences major at UIC with minors in Nutrition and Spanish for the Professions, pursuing a career in dentistry. A certified dental assistant, she is passionate about increasing representation in healthcare and mentoring future health professionals. Karla serves as Treasurer of Mujeres en Medicina, Student Ambassador for Events and Educational Partnerships, and Student Ambassador for L@s GANAS, where she supports mentorship and research initiatives. She is a SHPEP at Columbia University alumni and remains committed to uplifting underrepresented students while preparing for dental school.
Karla believes that student engagement and community service are important because they turn learning into impact. To her, it is not just about earning good grades, but about using education to uplift others. Through her involvement, she has built leadership skills, confidence, and meaningful relationships. Community service continually reminds her why she wants to pursue a career in healthcare: to serve and advocate for underrepresented communities.
UIC stood out to her because of its diversity, strong research opportunities, and its reputation as home to the #1 dental school in Illinois. She also valued that it is a Division I school with extensive resources while still being close to home. For Karla, UIC reflects the kind of environment she hopes to serve in—diverse, driven, and community-focused.
Her involvement outside the classroom has shaped her just as much as her academic coursework. Through leadership roles, mentorship programs, and pre-dental organizations, she has grown both professionally and personally. Serving as a leader in Mujeres en Medicina allowed her to represent Hispanic pre-dental students and create spaces where they feel seen and supported.
Although it is difficult for her to choose just one favorite memory, one of her most meaningful moments was being selected to represent Hispanic pre-dental students in one of the largest organizations at UIC, Mujeres en Medicina. It was a moment where everything she had worked toward came together. Another unforgettable experience for her has been giving campus tours and later seeing those same prospective students on campus. When they recognize her and thank her for encouraging them to commit, it reinforces the importance of leadership and mentorship and reminds her of the impact she can have on others.
After graduation, Karla plans to attend dental school and continue working toward her goal of becoming a dentist who serves diverse communities. Her dream is to one day own her own dental practice, where she can provide high-quality, compassionate care and create an environment in which patients feel safe, understood, and valued. She also hopes to mentor future students, just as others have mentored her.