Hometown: Warwick, RI

I transferred to URI because it had so many opportunities for me to grow and gain expertise in the field I wanted to be in. What surprised me the most, and what I loved, about URI were the small class sizes and lively atmosphere of the campus all year round.

For those who are currently majoring in Health Studies, here is my advice to you: Try to explore many paths of public health and health sciences. Like myself, you may find that you’ll fall in love with a field that you had no intention of pursuing when applying to college. Also, goals and plans are great, as I’m a planner myself, but don’t fret when it doesn’t go as planned because sometimes, the best things happen unexpectedly!

I consider the plethora of opportunity to be the greatest strength of this major. There is broad opportunity in pursuing a career in health studies. URI does a great job offering specializations that touch on many aspects of public health, along with study abroad opportunities, extracurriculars, and special events. I was able to study abroad for two weeks on a faculty-led program in Indonesia, exploring global health and social determinants of health in a developing country. This was integral in my career and personal development, as I gained independence, many new skills, and a new perspective on the world. It was tailored to my major which enriched my experience and time at URI even more.

My next stop is to continue my education at the Brown University School of Public Health, where I will be pursuing my MPH in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. I was chosen to be a Health Equity Scholar as well, an opportunity that provides me with the resources to give back to communities I love dearly in Rhode Island.