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

I was initially drawn to the MPH program at Brown for the opportunity to work with the People, Place, and Health Collective (PPHC) on values-driven substance use research. Once I found out that I was accepted into the program as a Dean’s Scholar with full tuition coverage and visited Providence, it was a clear choice.

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

Lots of public health programs have faculty and classes focused on substance use, but as I was looking at programs I didn’t always feel that I could find faculty who reflected the values that I wanted to see in substance use research. I wanted to find researchers who were dedicated to harm reduction and justice for people who use drugs, and I absolutely found that here at the PPHC. At PPHC I have found mentors and colleagues who are truly values-driven and vocal about justice across many contexts.

What do you enjoy most about your program?

I have been so inspired by the way that my mentors at the PPHC and the Sexual Health and Reproductive Experiences (SHARE) Lab approach their work. The faculty and staff I’ve worked with at the PPHC and the SHARE Lab inspire me to think about all the ways that I can genuinely mobilize values for justice and liberation in research, the classroom, and my life beyond Brown. I am continually pushed to reflect on not only what it means to be a good researcher, but a good human.

What is your academic area of interest and why?

My academic areas of interest are substance use harm reduction, reproductive justice, gender justice, and their intersections. This interest is directly informed by my firsthand experience working in direct service harm reduction settings and sexual assault survivor advocacy, as well as volunteering for abortion funds. I’m interested in interrogating how systems of power and oppression impact peoples’ health and how people resist this harm and oppression through building community power.

What are your postgraduate goals/plans?

At the moment my dream is to work in health promotion in higher education! I would love to oversee a peer education program focused on substance use and sexual health.

Why Providence?

Providence is so underrated! The food scene here is amazing, it’s super walkable, you have access to waterfront, and there are always cool artsy events around town. Providence is dense so it’s easy to get to different parts of town quickly. Plus, you have easy train access to Boston and New York City. Even as someone from the West who is a couple thousand miles from home, I can honestly say I really love Providence, and it has completely exceeded my expectations.

What advice would you give to a prospective applicant?

1. Reflect on your values and let them guide you. Just because there is a research group, lab, or faculty member working in the same area as you doesn’t mean that your values will align with theirs. Try to do your research beforehand and look at publications, CVs, bios, etc. to try to get a sense of how people approach their work and what matters to them. What research questions do they ask? How do they go about their research? What conclusions do they draw from their work? What community groups or external organizations are they affiliated with? Do you see your values reflected in their work, or not? I have turned down offers to work with research groups that I feel did not reflect my values, and I’m so glad that I did.

2. Think about your goals and priorities for what you want to get out of the program. Is it knowledge of a certain topic area? Is it certain skills? Is it networking with certain professors or staff? Check in with yourself often and ask yourself if you need to pivot to make sure that you’re reaching your goals. Don’t be afraid to make a change! The program is short and flies by so fast — at the end you’ll want to feel like you got everything you possibly could out of it with the time you had.

3. Be proactive. If there is a lab, research group, or faculty member that you want to work with, reach out and express your interest as early as possible!