Dyckman Institute Scholar Yenny Salcedo’s Columbia Journey Is an Uptown Homecoming
Salcedo spoke about what led her to Columbia and her academic aspirations.
For Washington Heights native Yenny Salcedo (CC’27), embarking on her collegiate chapter at Columbia is a homecoming of sorts. For as long as she could remember, the school has been intertwined with the ethos of her Uptown upbringing. It was at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center where her mother worked across various departments; using healthcare as an avenue to serve her beloved community, and it is in that same space where, over the years, her family received care.
“Growing up in Washington Heights, Columbia has always been a part of my life in some kind of way,” Salcedo told Columbia Neighbors. “Columbia already felt like home, so it seemed like the perfect choice.”
Now Salcedo—a Dyckman Institute Scholar who has a strong interest in psychology—is using her path at Columbia to explore areas of academia that will enable her to empower and advocate for communities. Each year, the Dyckman Institute Fund Scholarship provides need-based financial support for four exceptional undergraduate students who reside in the Upper Manhattan neighborhoods of Washington Heights and Inwood.
The first-year student’s curiosity about the behavioral sciences is the byproduct of her lived experiences. With the help of the New York City-based nonprofit Oliver Scholars, Salcedo’s high school journey took her from the concrete corridors of Washington Heights to the Thacher School in the hills of Ojai, California. It was at the West Coast boarding school where she began to truly explore the concepts of cultural identity and how individuals cognitively process societal shifts. During her freshman year, when the pandemic hit, she had to learn how to simultaneously navigate not always seeing herself reflected in the learning environments she was in, and the uncertainty of the looming health crisis.
While in California, the self-proclaimed El Malecon restaurant enthusiast often missed the sights, sounds, and aromas that fill the streets of New York City.
“Being an Afro-Latina in any private school is hard and being on the other side of the country in the midst of COVID was especially hard,” Salcedo shared. “I had a lot going on freshman year with culture shock, adjustment, and having to deal with the disruptions caused by COVID. I think that’s what specifically made me interested in psychology. I took a psychology class in high school to fully understand what was happening within my own mind and how we’re programmed. That was one of the biggest influences on my path.”
As she furthers her studies at Columbia, Salcedo says she’s grateful that she doesn’t have to do it alone as she’s been able to discover a sense of community on campus. From study sessions to banner events curated by Bacchanal, connecting with other scholars has been a definitive part of her experience so far.
“I’ve genuinely created really strong bonds with the people across campus,” Salcedo said. “This is only the beginning. There’s so much more time and so much more to do that I’m excited for."
"I’ve genuinely created really strong bonds with the people across campus."
Salcedo—who credits her family and the vibrant community of Washington Heights as sources of inspiration—says if she could share advice with younger generations of students it would be to embrace fear and move forward with unwavering confidence.
“Fear is your biggest enemy, don’t let it hold you back,” Salcedo said. “At one point, I was hesitant to apply to Columbia out of fear of not getting in because I know it’s a competitive school, but look at me now.”