“This incredible life my daughter has given me has been a blessing. I intend to return the favor and show my daughter anything is possible with the proper hard work and persistence.”

Kristie Wilcox is committed to improving maternal healthcare for young women. When Kristie became a mother at age 17, her plans for her future changed dramatically. She had originally intended to study public relations in college, but she needed a stable job to support her daughter. Kristie began working as a patient services associate at Michigan Medicine and discovered her passion for women’s health, a passion she is now pursuing as a gender and health major at U-M. Although her path has been bumpy, Kristie is grateful that becoming a mother helped her find a career that brings her joy. She says, “This incredible life my daughter has given me has been a blessing. I intend to return the favor and show my daughter anything is possible with the proper hard work and persistence.”

After finishing her degree, Kristie plans to pursue graduate studies with the goal of working in women’s healthcare. She is also committed to advocacy and wants to help other young women who are mothers. After starting college at U-M, she founded the organization She’s Got Grit, which offers support and resources to women who become mothers during high school. She is in the process of creating a scholarship fund that will offer financial assistance to these young women as well.

In addition to her advocacy work, Kristie is a dedicated student who plans to complete two separate honors thesis projects, each of which will focus on issues related to maternal healthcare. Her mentor describes her as an “extraordinary person” and says, “her work ethic, maturity and wide-ranging thinking continue to inspire me.” A first-generation college student, Kristie is proud to be setting an example for her daughter. She says, “I am excited to show my daughter that education is important and worth the hard work.”

CEW+ celebrates Kristie’s unwavering persistence and names her a Robert Bruce Dunlap Memorial Scholar.