What is your major at and why did you choose it?
I am a freshman at UAB, and my major is public health. In the Fall of 2021, I began college majoring in biology, but I decided to switch to public health in the middle of the semester. After taking an Intro to Public Health class, I became very interested in learning more about community-based solutions to public health issues. I am also very interested in learning about how environmental factors affect the health of communities.
What do you hope to do after you graduate? (for college students)
After I finish my undergraduate degree, I hope to earn my Master’s in global health and attend graduate school.
What is your dream job?
My dream job is to work in low-income countries conducting research and gaining insight on how global health policies can be implemented to better the lives of people living in disadvantaged communities.
What do you hope to learn while interning with Gasp?
I hope to gain more knowledge regarding the usage of air monitors and how data collection can be used to evoke improvements in air quality. I also hope to learn more about how GASP’s efforts can be translated to other cities that are highly affected by air pollution.
Why is our mission to reduce air pollution important to you?
As a public health major, I have learned a great deal about the negative impacts of air pollution on the health of communities. Since Birmingham has such a long and severe history of air pollution, I want to get involved with the remediation effort in any way that I can. GASP’s mission is directly aligned with the improvements that I hope to see in the Birmingham area.
What is your favorite food?
Currently, my favorite food is sushi, but I also love Hispanic food.
Where do you consider your hometown?
I was born and grew up in Hoover, Alabama, a city right outside of Birmingham.
What are your hobbies?
I enjoy reading, hiking, mountain biking, and exploring cool places in Birmingham.
Who or what are your influences?
At this point in my life, my primary influences are my professors and leaders in my academic community. The perspectives that they share and teach have opened my eyes to ideas that I hadn’t considered previously.
What are some other fun facts about yourself?
A fun fact about myself is that I played lacrosse for 11 years until my senior year of high school. I also love to travel with my friends to popular outdoor locations to hike and go mountain biking. Though I don’t get to do so very often nowadays, I love to go camping!
