Age: 24

Hometown: Raised in Los Angeles and Buena, N.J.

Think of: Tracee Ellis Ross of ABC’s “black-ish’’

What caught our eye: Burch’s multilayered performance, alternately funny and touching, as Keera, a devout high school student who tells stories of an idyllic home life in Kirsten Greenidge’s “Milk Like Sugar,’’ at Huntington Theatre Company through Feb. 27.

Light bulb moment: “I wanted to be a dermatologist in fourth grade. At 16, I went to a summer program, the New Jersey Governor’s School of the Arts. The director knew I wanted to be a doctor, but she said to me: ‘You know, Shanae, medicine is great, but theater can heal people too.’ ’’

Biggest thrill: “ ‘Milk Like Sugar’ is pretty thrilling. But my junior year at Emerson College I was in a solo performance course where I was able to start writing my first solo performance piece. It was about my grandmother’s battle with cancer and my coming of age. It was the first time I had been able to interweave my passions for theater and health.’’

Biggest surprise: “My biggest surprise thus far has been being able to do a full production (‘Milk Like Sugar’) while being a full-time student in grad school. [Burch is pursuing a master’s degree at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.] I never really go into any audition believing I’m going to be cast. My first question is always: ‘Are you sure you want me?’ It’s been really awesome to meet other theater artists that are really interested in health beyond just the absence of disease, meeting collaborators who want to put health stories onstage.’’

Inspired by: “I was introduced to Anna Deavere Smith’s work when she did ‘Letters to a Young Artist.’ I’d say that her work as a creative person and a scholar is something that I aspire to in my career. I’m really looking forward to weaving them together.’’

Aspires to: “I aspire to be a digital and performance storyteller for health education and activism. I once heard a rapper whose name is Propaganda say that he’s not the artist, he’s the canvas, seeing himself as a vessel. I hope to embrace that: That I’m not the artist, I’m the canvas, for God, for what’s meant to be, a canvas for bringing light to the world.’’

For good luck: “I create a music playlist for my characters, and I listen to songs that my characters would listen to. It kind of anchors me in what that person appreciates or believes. For Keera, I listened to a lot of gospel music.’’

What people should know: “I’m an introvert. Sometimes people assume that all actors are extroverts because they get up and go onstage. But I recharge best on my own, and really value my quiet personal time, solo. You can be a performer and still protect that part of you that does need to be by yourself at times.’’

Coming soon: “I graduate in May. So I will not be performing. I will be focusing on some independent academic work.’’

Links: www.about.me/shanae burchDON AUCOIN

Don Aucoin can be reached at aucoin@globe.com.