Melissa Nevarez Brewster is a graduate student in the Developmental Psychology Ph.D. program at the University of Denver. She received her B.S. in Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Utah in 2020. During her undergraduate summers, Melissa conducted research projects through the Ronald E. McNair scholars. These projects focused on prenatal HPA axis and autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning and how these maternal regulatory indices impact newborn attention and arousal. Melissa is interested in maternal experiences (before and during pregnancy), and how these experiences impact offspring outcomes, more specifically baby sleep. Melissa is a first-generation college student and immigrant and loves to talk about the many experiences that have led her to apply, and now attend a Ph.D. program.  ​