Josh Domingue credits student involvement and his accelerated degree path for his success at UAB.Touring college campuses can be a crucial step for high school students in the college decision process. For Josh Domingue, it was a turning point in his journey.
Traveling from his hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Domingue embarked on a series of college tours across Alabama. After a cousin suggested he visit the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Josh booked a guided campus tour. What he found was some unexpected inspiration for his future self.
“My tour guide was doing a lot of the same things that I wanted to do,” he said. “She was a public health major, she was super involved on campus, and she really loved her UAB experience. I thought, ‘wait, this could be me if I choose to go here.’”
Thanks to UAB’s academic common market agreement with regional states like Louisiana, Domingue would be able to enroll in the public health program as an in-state student; this resource, along with several scholarship opportunities, secured his decision to become a UAB Blazer in the fall of 2022.
“I knew I had made the right decision the moment I stepped on campus and started meeting people,” he said. “The sense of community here is unmatched, and it made UAB feel like home right away.”
Fast track to success
Now, four years later, Domingue is closing out his college journey by graduating with several accolades. “I have been able to pursue an accelerated path earning my Bachelor of Science degree in public health, Master of Public Health degree in health behavior and a graduate certificate [in Disability Health Studies] all at the same time, which has challenged me academically and prepared me for my future career.”
Besides outstanding academic achievement in the School of Public Health, Domingue credits his involvement within UAB’s student organizations and student recruitment programs with helping him grow as a leader on campus and in the community. “I feel like those are opportunities that you don’t get in the real world until you’re way older in life,” he said.
Since 2023, Domingue has served as a UAB TrailBlazer and led prospective students on campus tours similar to the one that initially inspired him to become a Blazer. “My time as a tour guide definitely changed my perspective and my understanding of the world around me.”
A supportive community
While many aspects drew Domingue to UAB, it was the people he met throughout his time as a student that meant the most. “I chose UAB for its urban campus, the opportunities it offers, the School of Public Health and the size of the university. But I chose to stay because of the incredible community here.”
He continued, “I think what you really find when you’re on UAB’s campus is that the community is so collaborative; everyone is there to help you succeed, they want the best for you, and they’re also your biggest cheerleaders.”
When looking back on his four years at UAB, Domingue distills the experience to one word: irreplaceable. “It’s taught me a lot about myself and the world around me, and it’s really prepared me for the future.”
Domingue’s post-graduation journey will take him to Washington, D.C., for a career in communications and media relations, a challenge he feels empowered to take on thanks to his time at UAB.
“UAB has pushed me to grow both personally and professionally in ways I did not expect,” he said. “Through my experiences, I have become more driven, more adaptable and more focused on making an impact. UAB did not just prepare me for my career; it helped shape the person I am today.”