Nicole Sanchez (she/her) | Research Fellow | nsanchez@omni.org

Nicole graduated from Arizona State University (ASU) with an Integrative Health degree in the spring of 2023. At ASU, Nicole studied community-focused approaches to wellness that promote social connection, mental health, physical health, and spiritual well-being. During her college experience, Nicole received opportunities in mix-method research and grant writing initiatives. She worked with the Starbucks Social Impact Team in a fellowship where she gathered data and conducted interviews to identify programs that could improve financial, social, environmental, and mental health for Starbucks partners.

Nicole also worked as an intern with Sprout City Farms, a nonprofit in Denver, Colorado, where she assisted in writing multiple grants to request funding for food security programs that impacted diverse communities to obtain access to weekly fresh produce. In her final year at ASU, Nicole served as a research assistant under Dr. Fiorella Carlos Chavez in her "Youth Health and Well-being Lab" to understand the implications of culture, family, and work-life-related stressors on Latino migrant youth health and development.

In the future, Nicole aspires to continue learning about conducting research and community evaluation. She hopes to pursue a graduate degree in public health with an emphasis on population mental health and well-being. Nicole has taught yoga and meditation for many years to diverse communities in senior centers, women's shelters, and community centers. She is passionate about teaching, learning, and making holistic practices accessible to reduce stress and improve mental health. Nicole's studies in integrative health have enhanced her dedication to promoting the health of mind, body, and spirit. In her free time, she enjoys hiking in the mountains with her dog and husband. She also loves binge-watching a good Netflix series and eating vegan ice cream.

“I was drawn to OMNI because of its commitment to respect and care for the communities it evaluates. I am looking forward to learning more about the approach of social science methods and conducting ethical research with rigor especially geared toward community health and behavioral health.”

Education

Arizona State University
B.S., Integrative Health

+ Work Experience

Barista Retail Trainer/Coffee Master | May 2012 – June 2023
Starbucks

Research Assistant | January 2023 - May 2023
Arizona State University

Development Internship | May 2022 – October 2022
Sprout City Farms

Social Impact Team Fellowship | August 2021 – December 2021
Starbucks

+ Skills & Certifications

  • Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook)
  • Google Suite (docs, sheets, drive, mail, calendar, slides)
  • Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative, Social & Behavioral Research
  • SPSS Statistical Software
  • Google Data Analytics Program

+ Community Involvement

  • Highland Park Neighborhood Association - Secretary (January 2016 - Jan. 2018)
  • Catholic Charities Women’s Shelter - Yoga teacher (May 2015- December 2020)
  • Denver Metro - Women’s Shelter Diaper Drive Volunteer (January 2021- March 2021
  • Women’s Wilderness - Trailblazers Community Gift Event (December 2022)

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a doctor. I even had a pretend doctor kit and I would diagnose people.

Favorite place you’ve traveled?
My favorite place is Costa Rica. The people are extremely friendly and truly care about their beautiful environment.

How do you take your coffee?
I drink my coffee with a little bit of cocoa and oat milk.