When Bria Combs was growing up, she loved watching medical shows with her mom. Every time she saw a white coat, she’d declare: “That’s me! I’m going to do that.”
But it is one thing to watch something on TV and another to pursue it as a career, which is what Combs is determined to do as an undergraduate at CU Denver. She’s set to graduate in fall 2024 with a major in biology and a focus on pre-medicine. All of which will build an academic portfolio that will help her reach her ultimate goal: to go to medical school.
She hopes to make a difference in patient’s lives, but she also wants to influence change in the medical industry. “There aren’t a lot of people who look like me currently who work in medicine,” Combs said. “I think that it’s important to see somebody who looks like you when you’re working so that you can feel comfortable in said space.”
Combs is also serving as CU Denver’s Student Government Association president, a role that gives her a unique opportunity on campus. Her job is to listen to students, but also to advocate on their behalf with the administration, faculty, staff, and more. “It really broadens my eyes to make sure that not only student government, but all other student organizations, can better foster a campus life that we actually are pushing for,” Combs said.
She appreciates CU Denver’s spot on a tri-institutional campus because of the power created by bringing together so many learners in one location. “We get to work with other institutions to better foster an academic culture in the city,” Combs said.
Not to be confined to the classroom, Combs is active in a choir that travels nationally, paints, is an avid reader, and listens to classical music.
I chose CU Denver because I grew up right here in the city. And out of all of my choices in Colorado, I felt that Denver was the right choice.
–Bria Combs
When asked why she’s excited to get her degree from CU Denver, she offers two reasons: On the practical side, she knows that a college diploma means more earning power. But to get that advantage while also studying topics she cares about and expanding her knowledge? Well, that’s an easy sell. “It allows you to learn about things that you might not have really liked or have known about,” Combs said. “And the moment that you get to learn those things, it could open a whole different door for you.”
