Christian Munoz ’20
Western Cherokee Nation
Christian Muñoz is a first-generation Mexican, Lebanese, and Western Cherokee Nation descendent. He is a graduating senior with a B.S. in Human Biology, Health and Society, with two career-focused tracks in pre-medicine and pre-dietetics.
In 2018, he was awarded a competitive internship from the One Heart Source Health and Innovation Program in Cape Town, South Africa. This opportunity gave him the chance to apply his medical and nutrition education in various settings. For example, he completed clinical rotations in the South African private and public medical sectors and engaged in community outreach programs where he taught school children and their parents about health and nutrition. Additionally, Christian is submitting a research paper on the soil microbiome influences on crop species plant’s phenotypic defenses when being attacked by herbivory.
In the Fall of 2019, he presented this research in the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/ Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) National Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii.
He first got involved with AIIS as a pre-freshman summer program student with the support from Ms. Kathy Halbig. He remained affiliated with the program by attending some events and meetings throughout his time at Cornell. Christian is a hard worker, juggling two jobs most semesters, being a sales associate at Triphammer Wines and Spirits and a student supervisor at Cornell Dining, working on his research relentlessly, and usually taking on a full science-heavy course load.
Christian is currently awaiting and applying to post-baccalaureate Master of Science programs to defer for the spring of 2022 and will be completing a Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics in conjunction with his Dietetic Internship at Texas Tech University starting this summer and ending in the Fall of 2021. He plans to apply to MD/ PhD programs after his current plans and join the Air Force to become a medical officer. Congratulations, Christian!
