Maliyah Gallien grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana and moved to Denver, Colorado to pursue her undergraduate degree. She graduated from the University of Colorado Denver with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in May of 2025. While attending the University of Colorado Denver, she was shown a wide range of opportunities. During her sophomore year, she was introduced to a behavioral neuroscience research lab, which opened many doors for her. She then started another research project with a gerontologist who studied how gentrification impacts older adults in Colorado quality of life. While doing these two research projects Maliyah was also actively a domestic violence survivor advocate through her university. These opportunities led her to become a McNair scholar and join other students of color at her university who share a passion for research and higher education. Maliyah's love for genetic counseling came about after a human development psychology course during a chapter that talked about genetic disorders. After some research, Maliyah realized that genetic counseling was the perfect fit for her because it incorporated both her love for science and her passion for advocating for people.
In her free time she likes to go to yoga, go to lyra classes, bake, spend time with family and friends, and watch true crime. As a first-generation college student, applying to grad school was a challenge but she is beyond appreciative to the staff and students at Emory GCTP who gave her some guidance. If any prospective students have any questions, please reach out!