Mina Tabatabai is a proud Houstonian and alumna of the University of Houston, determined to become a pediatric dentist that children did not fear. Shadowing pediatric dentists and interning as a dental assistant at Healthcare for the Homeless confirmed her love for the occupation. Traveling on dental mission trips in Costa Rica, Panama, and Texas and working in dental offices in Iran and Houston encouraged her studies and increased her desire to help.

Mina volunteered at Texas Children's hospital, American Red Cross, and anywhere else that she had the opportunity to, because she knew that ultimately, she wanted her future to revolve on helping others. As a biology major with a business administration minor, Mina was trained to handle situations both as a manager of her father's business and as a researcher in her senior honors thesis science laboratory. 

Grateful for the diversity of the University, Mina was active on campus: as a photographer for the Daily Cougar, an officer in the Honors Ambassadors and American Student Dental Association (ASDA) organization, a spirited "bleacher creature," and a two-time intramural racquetball champion. Mina also had the opportunity to travel across America representing University of Houston: she went to Washington, D.C., three times for the National Model Arab League, to Colorado and Pennsylvania for the National Collegiate Honors Council, to Arizona for racquetball intramural nationals, and to Louisiana to present her research on a travel fellowship grant.

Mina next plans to attend Howard University College of Dentistry in Washington D.C. where she will carry on her Cougar spirit and education.