Olivia Blanton is a junior majoring in public health with aspirations to support marginalized communities to achieve health equity. She is also pursuing a Master of Public Health in Environmental Health and Occupational Safety in the Accelerated-Bachelor’s-to Master’s (ABM) program.

As a student in the Global and Community Leadership Honors Program (GCL), Olivia believes that GCL allows students to find and connect their passions to issues affecting various communities. She credits GCL for allowing her to improve as a person, not just as a scholar.

Olivia serves as the President-Elect for GCL’s student executive board, which has provided invaluable experiences with leadership, communication, and cultural awareness. She also serves as the Program Coordinator for the Green Initiative at UAB. She previously worked as a chemical safety intern in the UAB Environmental Health and Safety division.

While participating in STEM-related opportunities, Olivia found another creative outlet that allowed her to develop new passions. She joined UAB’s Literary Arts Review Magazine, Aura as the Managing Editor.

Aside from her coursework and extracurricular activities, Olivia enjoys exploring the local Birmingham cuisine and trying to replicate it at home. She loves the food that the city has to offer.