As a Chicana from Northern New Mexico, Jaylene has had to overcome situations which she had no control over, especially coming from a community of high drug and alcohol abuse. Jaylene comes from a large family in which makes living away from home difficult, yet at the same time encourages her to finish what she started. Jaylene says, "Being a first-generation college student taught me to keep my head up and finish strong." Jaylene graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Mexico; she is now pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering and loves the research involved. Jaylene would love to be a role model for other young underrepresented students studying science who may or may not have the same upbringing as herself.
Jaylene acted as graduate mentor to Kaitlin Mazotti.