Q: What city and state are you from? What high school did you attend?
I am from Leeds, Alabama and a graduate of Leeds High School.
Q: Are you pursuing another program or opportunity in addition to the BS in Public Health (a dual-major, accelerated learning opportunity, etc)?
In addition to pursuing a BS in Public Health with a concentration in Global Health Studies and a minor in Chemistry, I am also pursuing the Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Program to receive my MPH in Maternal and Child Health Policy and Leadership.
Q: What is your anticipated graduation date from your program(s)?
I am on track to graduate with my BS and my MPH in Spring of 2025.
Q: Tell us about yourself.
I grew up in a working-class family where I developed a strong work ethic and resilience. For 13 years, I was a competitive gymnast, a sport that instilled discipline, perseverance and a passion for physical activity. This athletic background transitioned into my college life, where I now enjoy adventure, traveling, being outdoors and trying new hobbies. I love animals, cooking, watching documentaries and fueling my curiosities. My friends and family would probably describe me as kind, calm and observant.
I currently work as a gymnastics coach, sharing my passion and expertise with young athletes. In addition, I also serve as a Teaching Assistant for several classes within the School of Public Health, where I support students in their academic journey and contribute to a positive learning environment. My new role as a Graduate Assistant for the Gulf Scholars Program also allows me to mentor students and engage with critical issues in the Gulf South.
Community service is another area I enjoy. I have volunteered at high-profile events like the World Games and have consistently dedicated my time to equal access health clinics and the Community Food Bank of Alabama, just to name a few.
My academic pursuits and interests in public health include maternal and child health (MCH), global health system innovation and healthy living whether it be through the pursuit of consulting, program management, advocacy, community engagement, evaluation processes, health education/promotion, a DrPH, or a Ph.D. From a lifetime of various experiences, I feel that I have developed a passion and commitment to advancing health education, prevention and advocacy, driving positive change for communities!
Q: Why did you choose to study public health? And why at UAB?
I chose to study public health at UAB for several reasons. Initially, I chose UAB because of UAB's prestigious reputation as a health sciences, medical and research university, and because of the multiple scholarships I received. Although I began my journey at UAB as a neuroscience major and pre-med student, my perspective shifted during the spring semester of my freshman year. The Intro to Global Health course, PUH 202, opened my eyes to the vast and impactful field of public health, sparking a newfound passion that led me to change my major to public health. This decision has been one of the most transformative and fulfilling choices of my academic career.
Over the past three years, my experiences at the UAB School of Public Health have solidified my commitment to this field. I initially thought I wanted to pursue medical school, but through my coursework, internships and volunteer opportunities, I discovered a deeper passion for public health, particularly in global health systems innovation and maternal and child health. One aspect I enjoy about public health is that it represents the art of the sciences, allowing me to blend my science background with creativity to keep populations and people healthy. I am passionate about the prevention and education components of public health, which focus on proactive measures and empowering communities with knowledge. The unique opportunities provided by the UAB School of Public Health have allowed me to grow both personally and professionally, confirming that my true calling lies in public health. I am excited to continue my journey, leveraging my skills and knowledge to make a meaningful impact. The School of Public Health has given me the tools and inspiration to pursue a career that aligns with my values and aspirations, and I am grateful for the support and guidance I have received along the way!
Q: Is there a faculty member who has made an impact on your academic journey so far?
Dr. Emmanuel Odame has made a huge impact on my academic journey at UAB. His PUH 210 class was one of the first public health classes that I took after I switched my major to Public Health. In this course, we were given the ability to choose a critical public health disease and create a health education platform for the chosen disease. This was a critical point in the opportunities that were created for me from his mentorship. From his class, my team developed the Teal Butterfly Project, which spread health education and advocacy for cervical cancer. The next semester, I became a Teaching Assistant for the same course under his guidance and have TA’d for this course ever since, mentoring and guiding students. Dr. Odame urged me and the team to submit our class project as an abstract and poster for the UAB School of Public Health Research Poster Session, where we received 2nd Place. He then encouraged us to submit for the American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting. From this, our project was selected, and I had the opportunity to attend the Annual Meeting, engage in phenomenal networking opportunities, present our project to professionals from around the globe, gain feedback, and earn the Public Health Education and Health Promotion Student Award. Additionally, I began engaging in cervical cancer research projects through the Sparkman Center for Global Health. Dr. Odame has played a huge part in opening these doors for me, and I could not thank him enough. He is among the many faculty and staff members within the UAB School of Public Health, including Dr. Lukhele, Dr. Chambliss and Sarah Hendren just to name a few, who continue to have a major impact on my collegiate, personal and professional journey.
Q: Have you been involved in any interesting projects or organizations during your time here?
On campus, I serve as the Vice President of Outreach of UAB Serve205, the Vice President of the Public Health Student Association and I am an Undergraduate Ambassador for the UAB School of Public Health. I have also served as a Sparkman Fellow for the Sparkman Center for Global Health and as a Health Policy Ambassador for the Lister Hill Center for Health Policy. I have had the opportunity to intern with the Alabama Perinatal Quality Collaborative/Alabama Maternal Health Task Force and study abroad in the Netherlands for a Global Health Systems Innovation Program.
Some interesting research projects that I have been a part of include, “Leveraging the Use of Social Media in Pedagogy: Lessons from a Public Health Class in the Deep South” with Dr. Odame, “From Mother-Daughter to Mother-Child Approach: A Strategy for Scaling up HPV vaccination in Cameroon” with Dr. Manga, “The Teal Butterfly Project at UAB: Evaluating the Impact of a Social Media Intervention on the Prevention and Education of Cervical Cancer” with Dr. Odame, creating a public facing text and children’s recipe book for “Understanding the Implication of Food Deserts on Children in Birmingham, Alabama,” and a semester project conducting an “Evaluation and Needs Assessment for the Alaska Title V MCH Block Grant.”
Q: What’s been your favorite class in the School of Public Health and why?
My favorite class within the School of Public Health at the undergraduate level has been PUH 202, Introduction to Global Health, because it is the class that ultimately led to me changing my career ambitions and undergraduate major. My favorite class at the graduate level has been HPO 609, Program Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation, and HPO 633, Policy and Women’s Health. In HPO 609, I was able to conduct a needs assessment of Impact America’s FocusFirst (child vision-screening) Program, and for HPO 633, I was able to explore the different ways to approach policy and women’s health through developing podcast episodes, writing a policy memo, creating a legislative testimony, and more.