By: Nathan Anderson
Marvin Ha has never limited himself to a single role. As a PhD student in the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Health Behavior program, the international student from Vietnam has embraced opportunities across campus as a student leader, workshop organizer and researcher. Though his interests are diverse, they are united by one mission: creating spaces that support the health, well-being, and connection of those around him.
Originally from Vietnam, Ha has built an extraordinary graduate experience at UAB by combining his passion for health behavior, creativity, and student engagement into a path uniquely his own.
His journey began as a Public Health undergraduate student with minors in Psychology and Communication Studies, academic interests that aligned closely with his long-term goal of working in health behavior.
Following his undergraduate degree, pursuing graduate school was a natural next step for Ha.
"It is crucial to make an impact on the real world as a public health professional," Ha said. "To achieve my career goals in Health Behavior, I have to be ready and resourceful for my targeted populations and my team to implement interventions both practically and critically. Therefore, attending graduate school could significantly enhance my knowledge and experience, better preparing me to meet public health needs."
Having already built a strong foundation at UAB, he knew the university was where he wanted to continue his education.
"UAB has everything I need to pursue my PhD in Health Behavior," he said. "The fresh and innovative environment allows me to be creative with the resources UAB provides, enabling me to focus on my studies and gradually develop my future goals."
His passion for Health Behavior stems from a simple yet powerful question: How can changing behaviors improve people's lives?
That curiosity has fueled his academic interests and inspired him to explore ethical, evidence-based approaches to promoting healthy behaviors within communities.
One experience that particularly shaped his perspective was an internship in Vietnam with Nhan Van, a specialized educational institution serving children with autism spectrum disorders.
During the internship, Ha worked directly with children across multiple age groups, developing activities that encouraged creativity, communication, and self-expression. Through a scrapbooking initiative, he taught students how to create and present their own projects, while also designing a model to evaluate verbal and nonverbal communication cues that could be shared with stakeholders.
"In just 3 months, I taught them to scrapbook and present their products, exceeding my expectations," Ha said.
The experience reinforced his desire to pursue interventions that make a tangible impact on communities and strengthened his passion for health behavior research.
Outside of academics, Ha has become deeply involved across campus, creating spaces for students to connect, decompress, and support one another.
For more than two years, he has partnered with the Public Health Student Association to host scrapbooking workshops that help students relieve stress and prioritize wellness amid demanding academic schedules.
He has also served as both a dancer and dance instructor for the Korean Undergraduate Student Association, encouraging students to stay physically active through movement and community engagement.
His leadership extends into another growing student community as captain of UAB Blazer Esports, where he leads the League of Legends team.
"It is interesting to observe how Esports can greatly boost students' morale and overall well-being," Ha said. "It gives students another outlet to responsibly balance academics and entertainment."
Throughout his graduate journey, UAB has helped shape not only his professional development but also his personal growth.
Like many international students, Ha faced challenges adapting to a new environment while being far away from family and his support system. Managing homesickness while balancing rigorous academic demands taught him valuable lessons about resilience, independence, and perseverance.
" Balancing graduate academics amidst mental distress instilled in me resilience, autonomy, and the significance of perseverance in challenging circumstances," he said.
At the same time, his accomplishments reaffirmed that he was exactly where he was meant to be.
One particularly meaningful milestone was receiving the Outstanding Student Trophy and being recognized as an exemplary graduate student.
"The acknowledgment was particularly significant since it represented not merely academic achievement but also the commitment, diligence, and perseverance required to surmount personal and professional obstacles during my tenure at UAB," Ha said.
As he reflects on his graduate school experience, he hopes current and future students will remember one simple lesson.
"Step by step, you will grow day by day."