Paxton Mills is a student at the University of Richmond majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology and a member of the 2023 cohort of the National Youth Leadership Institute. As someone with a rare platelet disorder, Paxton is interested in immersing herself in and advocating for the rare/ultra-rare disorders community. She is also a genetics researcher in a biology lab and works for Rethink Waste, an on-campus group that promotes sustainability and maximizes waste diversion efforts.