Q: What city and state are you from? What high school did you attend?

I am from Alabaster, Alabama, and I attended Thompson Highschool. Go Warriors!

Q: Are you pursuing another program or opportunity in addition to the B.S. in Public Health (a dual-major, accelerated learning opportunity, etc)?

I plan on getting a Master of Public Health after graduating.

Q: What is your anticipated graduation date from your program(s)?

I anticipate graduating in the spring of 2025.

Q: Tell us about yourself.

I am a senior at UAB, passionate about environmental health and health disparities. When I am not studying or working, I enjoy spending time with family, friends, and my dogs. I love outdoors activities like hiking, swimming, and pickleball. I also love photography and films.

Q: Why did you choose to study public health? And why at UAB?

I chose public health because I am intrigued by population health issues and health equity. Additionally, UAB is the only accredited School of Public Health in Alabama.

Q: Is there a faculty member who has made an impact on your academic journey so far?

Absolutely! Dr. Meredith Gartin, Assistant Professor of Global Health in the department of Health Policy and Organization, has been a great mentor to me. She is passionate and proactive about all her endeavors, which is inspiring to me.

Q: Have you been involved in any interesting projects or organizations during your time here?

Yes, I was involved with a research project for the Division of Preventative Medicine where we focused on social determinants of health and health behaviors of emerging Latino communities to better understand the prevalence of diabetes in this population. Currently, I am working with Alabama Interfaith Refugee Partnership (ALIRP) to try to improve housing conditions for refugee and asylum seekers and develop youth programs.

Q: What’s been your favorite class in the School of Public Health and why?

I have two favorites. First is Environmental Factors in Public Health because I am interested in environmental health, climate change, and environmental justice. I learned a lot about how the environment plays such a critical role in population health. My other favorite was Public Health Systems because of Dr. Kathryn Corvey and Sean McMahon who made this class fun and interesting, even when some of the material was a bit dull.