Why did you choose the Brown University School of Public Health?

What drew me to Brown’s program was its commitment to “learning by doing public health.” As an interdisciplinary scholar coming from a non–public health background, I was looking for a program that continually demonstrated the many ways that public health shows up in our daily lives and how we can have a hand in shaping it, even as students. Brown SPH is a rigorous program that prepares you to be a knowledgeable and skilled public health practitioner, but it doesn’t only focus on technical skills, the program emphasizes understanding the human part of public health by pushing us to be reflective and intentional scholars.

What makes Brown's program different from other programs you considered?

One of the things that I really loved was the size of the program. It’s not too big that I would feel lost as a student, but also big enough that all of my cohort-mates have vastly different, diverse interests. I also appreciated that Brown SPH is its own school, and I liked that the program isn’t so brand new that it feels unbuilt, but it’s still young enough that it’s constantly flexing and adapting to the current moment in public health and working to shape us to be ready to respond to that.

What do you enjoy most about your program?

The people really make the program. The faculty are brilliant and leading experts in their field, but they’re also down-to-earth individuals. They are incredibly kind, welcoming, and always willing to support your academic and professional journey. The students of SPH are collaborative, authentic, and constantly looking for ways to express their curiosity. Our cohort is made up of people from across the nation and the world who bring such a wealth of knowledge and experiences and makes you excited for class discussion. I am incredibly grateful for the ways our professors make space for us to learn from our fellow students. Lastly, the administrative team behind the School of Public Health are the best cheerleaders! There have been countless days where I’ve strolled into their offices without an appointment, with a mountain of stress and confusion, and they have been quick to sit with me and help me figure things out. 

As a Brown student, you really feel like you have so many people rooting for you and in your corner, which is especially important to have as a graduate student. You’re constantly surrounded by people who want to see you thrive and are willing to support you in making it happen.

What is your academic area of interest and why?

My academic areas of interest are at the intersection of maternal health and public health law and policy. More specifically, I’m very passionate about reproductive justice and Black maternal health advocacy. Within that, I’m interested in birth narratives and storytelling in research, and I’m also interested in how underrecognized maternal health practitioners (e.g. midwives, doulas, lactation consultants, etc) can impact outcomes and respectful maternity care practices. I’m interested in how we can transform public health research to effective and transparent maternal healthcare education and dissemination, and conduct participatory action research that’s rooted in Black feminist praxis.

What are your postgraduate goals/plans?

Following my MPH, I plan to go to law school and pursue a J.D. My long-term goal is to be a reproductive justice advocate and public health law scholar who centers community in my practice, which is why I felt public health was a necessary first step. I want to understand what is at the heart of the Black maternal health crisis in this nation and also learn how to hear, hold, and amplify community voices, especially the voices I want to defend through legal advocacy in the future.
For someone interested in legal advocacy and policy reform, Brown SPH was particularly a great fit because I have had the opportunity to learn from and be mentored by multiple J.D. holding Public Health professors. Also since the School of Public Health is a 15-minute walk from the State Capitol, you very easily have opportunities to watch and participate in the legislative process as a student.

Why Providence?

Providence is such a beautiful and vibrant city filled with culture and great food. Living here, you get the benefits of being close to everything you may need, without being in an overwhelmingly busy city. You can also make great day trips to places like Boston, New York City, Mystic, and other parts of New England.

What advice would you give to a prospective applicant?

Understand your “why.” Brown SPH is a special place that’s excited to support you in navigating the “how,” and really desires to shape you into the practitioner you aim to be. That starts with you being intentional about understanding why you want to pursue this degree and why now is the right time. Be intentional, be clear, and show how you’re already thinking about public health and how you want to continue growing through the program. Don’t be afraid to be specific about the public health issues that matter to you. If you come from a nontraditional background (career or academic-study wise), know that this is a space that truly values and desires the diverse perspective you bring to the field.