Kendall Bonifer

Hi! My name is Kendall Bonifer, and I’m from Pinckney, Michigan. I graduated from Marquette University in 2025 with a BS in biomedical sciences and minor in psychology. I developed a passion for advocacy work during my time with Marquette M.A.R.D.I. G.R.A.S., a student organization dedicated to providing disaster relief to communities affected by natural disasters in gulf regions. As a trip coordinator and executive board member, I worked as a volunteer liaison between homeowners and local nonprofits, as well as an educator for trip participants. During undergrad, I also worked as a medical scribe in the emergency department at Children’s Wisconsin, where I had the chance to speak to many different providers about genetic counseling. Without fail, every conversation I had was a vibrant, exciting, and hopeful exchange. The encouragement I received from them motivated me to learn more about careers in genetics. After graduation, I joined a bioinformatics lab at the University of Michigan as a dry lab volunteer, where I helped identify connections between CYP2D6 variants and tamoxifen dosing in breast cancer patients. I also volunteered with the Crisis Text Line and worked as a physical therapy rehabilitation aide. My participation in MCW’s GC-CREW internship during my gap year allowed me to see how my skills and passions aligned with the genetic counseling profession, solidifying my decision to pursue graduate training. I couldn’t be happier to be back in Milwaukee. In my free time, you can find me arranging music for the Marquette Meladies a cappella group, taking long walks by the lakefront, and trying new coffee shops.