Ashwitha (Ash) Sankar is a sophomore Provost Scholar and James Scholar majoring in interdisciplinary health sciences and molecular and cellular biology with a concentration in health diversity and a minor in public health. She is interested in health equity, environmental health, and toxicology related to chemical exposure. At Illinois, Ash works in the Gritton Lab investigating how early-life exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, particularly phthalates, affects brain function and contributes to the development of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and autism. Outside the lab, she is involved with Illinois Enactus, an organization focused on social and environmental entrepreneurship, where she helps develop and implement sustainable business models to support local communities and will serve as incoming president. She is also an EcoRep Intern with the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment, connecting students to campus sustainability initiatives and leading events focused on advancing sustainability goals. At Mayo Clinic, she will explore health equity and environmental determinants of health contribute to disparities in disease outcomes as she prepares for a career as a physician.