Where did you live before coming to UW and/or where are you from originally?

Prior to coming to Washington State, I was living and working in the public health department in Austin, Texas. I’m originally from Texas, but from a smaller rural industrial city in the West called Odessa. 

What is your background in public health/global health?

I started in Public/Global Health a couple of years after college. I had applied to be a Youth Development volunteer with the Peace Corps, but after missing my original departure date, I was offered a position as a Public Health Volunteer in Guinea, West Africa instead. I had never engaged with public health before, but I had a strong background in social research, social justice issues, and community engagement so it seemed like a good fit for me, and I accepted the position. I have now been working in Global Health for 10 years, bringing my background in social sciences to my work.  

Why did you choose to get your MPH in global health at the UW?

As mentioned, I had been working for the Austin public health department doing planning and community engagement for several years, but I wanted to re-focus on the ways applied social research could inform program public health program development and implementation. I was searching for a Medical Anthropology program when I found UW’s joint MPH in Global Health and PhD in Medical Anthropology program; this seemed like a great opportunity because although I had been working in public health for many years, I had no formal education in the field. Completing a joint MPH program along with my PhD has been instructive in informing my approach to public health and my overall anthropological research goals.  

What has the cohort experience been like for you?

Since arriving, I’ve been enjoying getting to know my cohort better. Each individual brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in a variety of disciplines, nationalities, interests, etc. I’m hoping we can find a way to stay connected and we recently joked about organizing a 10-year reunion. I’ve also secured an invite to Kenya, and I recruited a colleague over to the Anthropology program.  

What do you enjoy most about Seattle?

I’m also enjoying exploring Seattle. I had never been to the Pacific Northwest before but grew up watching Sleepless in Seattle, so coming from a dry desert, I think I romanticized the amount of rain I’d see in Seattle. Either way, I’m enjoying all the nature and trying to make my way through all the major tourist attractions, as much as my course-load allows.  

What advice do you have for students interested in applying to the program?

My advice for new applicants is to consider public health as an interdisciplinary degree and research what other departments or courses offered at UW could inform their studies. I’ve been amazed with all the course offerings and wish I had the capacity to take more classes. I have felt very supported by the Public Health department and my advisers to build a degree that works best for me, and I encourage any new applicant to reach out and self-advocate for themselves.