Why did you choose graduate school at IUPUI?
Indianapolis is the place to be for public health in the state—from policy work at the State Government to disease monitoring at the State and County Health Departments to social determinants of health at local NGOs to biostatistics and research at Eli Lilly! Even more, IUPUI also offers an affordable education, competitive with other schools of public health. Our professors have years of experience working in both the public and private sectors, at county, state, national, and international levels. Their connections and stories deepen the academic experience and challenge me to apply classwork to the real world.
What has been your favorite academic accomplishment since you’ve been here?
The opportunities for international experiences and becoming an aware global citizen have been some of my most challenging and memorable experiences here. I am completing a three-month internship in Rwanda at the Ministry of Health, partaking in a rare opportunity to work at a national level abroad, hopefully publish a paper, and learn about global health truly from a Rwandan context. I have also helped lead student groups to Nicaragua and Swaziland for different global health projects and traveled as a study abroad participant to El Salvador. Learning not only about public health in various nations has not only given me authentic experiences for a global health resume, but also encouraged me to develop a robust understanding of varying sociocultural and historical perspectives influencing health.
What do you enjoy most about life in Indianapolis?
I love the ever-developing neighborhoods of Indy! I started living in Indianapolis as an undergraduate in 2010, and the changes in the past six years, especially in Fountain Square and Mass Ave, have been tremendous. There is always a new restaurant to visit. However, my favorite part of life here revolves around the canal, where I can walk my dog, read a book, or enjoy the Regatta in September.
Please provide some details about your work/research as a graduate student and/or any activities you are involved in.
When I graduate in December, I will have worked at the Office of Study Abroad for 2.5 years, advising students on study abroad programs, developing promotional events, and integrating study abroad into curricula. I formerly worked with Dr. Rachel Vreeman and the IU-Kenya partnership on HIV/AIDS research in children and adolescents in Kenya. This fall, I will intern at the State Department of Health in Enteric Diseases.