2016 AMBASSADOR PROFILES

Get to know the Mailman Ambassadors, who will serve as peer liaisons that support incoming students over the course of the

summer and during orientation.

Table of ContentsPrithvi Addepalli---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 3Alexandra Berns----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 4David Boedeker ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 5Yuliya Buslovich----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 6Jazreel Cheung------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 7Annissa Chi----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 8Kaylin Cordingley--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 9Janice Desmangles------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 10Divya Devli---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 11Rianna Dibartolo-Cordovano----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 12Ashley Geczik------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 13Ashley Gripper----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 14Angelika Gutierrez-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 15Brianna Isaacson---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 16Pradhita Maddireddy--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 17

Ishani Mathur------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 18Nina Orwitz--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 19Taylar Peoples-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 20Fatima Riaz---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 21Jennifer Ringler----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 22Qianhui Shao-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 23Jazmine Wong-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 24Ying Xue-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 25Brian Yim------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Page 26

PRITHVI ADDEPALLI

HometownSeattle, WA, USA

Department, DegreeHealth Policy and Management, MHA

Life before MailmanPrior to Mailman, I just graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelors of Science in Psychology. I have some clinical experience working in a fertility clinic and volunteering in hospitals. Past internship experiences include data analysis, project management, and technical writing roles.

Why Mailman?A key aspect that differentiated Mailman from other public health schools is the diversity in the admitted and attending students, in numerous ways. I appreciated the variety of ethnicities, but more importantly, diversities of thought and experiences that students brought to the Mailman experience from all over the world. I felt that I could contribute something unique to the community, while also have the chance to learn from so many other perspectives.

Life at MailmanI have really enjoyed my Strategic Management and Financial Management classes, with Professor Thurman and Professor Dong, respectively. I have developed a strong relationship with the Office of Career Services. I also have loved my extracurricular experiences being the VP for External Affairs for the Columbia Mailman Consulting Club and the Mailman liaison for the CMCC Student Health Advisory Committee. I plan on continuing both of these roles next year, as well as beginning to write for the student voices section of Mailman Communications.

Life after MailmanAfter Mailman, I would love to be a part of improving health delivery systems and quality of care in some capacity, whether that is through hospital administration or health consulting.

ALEXANDRA BERNS

HometownWestport, CT, USA

Department, Degree, CertificateEnvironmental Health Sciences, MPH, Toxicology

Life before MailmanI graduated from the University of Michigan (go blue!) in 2014, where I majored in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Evolutionary Anthropology. I spent three of my years there working in a biology lab doing research on monarch butterflies and milkweed plants. I wrote my honors thesis on monarch butterfly wing shape variation. After graduating from Michigan, I joined an AmeriCorps program doing community service in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. I lived on Cape Cod for eleven months doing environmental work outdoors mostly. The focuses of the program were natural resource management, emergency disaster preparedness and response, environmental education, and volunteer engagement. I thoroughly enjoyed my AmeriCorps experience, but after my break from school, I was ready to move to NYC and start at Mailman!

Why Mailman?I attended Admitted Students Day last year, still unsure of where I wanted to attend. During lunch I was seated at a table with current and prospective EHS students. Talking to the second year students, I realized I had a lot in common with them. I saw that there were, like me, environmentally focused students here at Mailman. After seeing that I shared many common interests with the second year students, I knew that I would be happy at Mailman.

Life at MailmanIn the Core, Biological and Environmental Determinants of Health was by far my favorite course. It was a review of many biological concepts, as well as an overview of environmental issues. For someone interested in climate change and its effect on human populations, this class was fantastic. Dr. Freyer was the professor for this class, and he is a very captivating lecturer. Additionally, I am on the executive board of Students for Environmental Action (SEA), a student group at Mailman. It has given me a chance to really get engaged with other environmentally focused like-minded students. I am looking forward to seeing all that we can do for Mailman and the Washington Heights community.

Life after MailmanAlthough I am not sure what I want to do after I graduate from Mailman, I know that I want to work in the environmental field. My favorite course so far is Risk Assessment, and I hope that I can work in that field.

DAVID BOEDEKER

HometownOmaha, NE, USA

Department, DegreeHealth Policy and Management, MHA

Life before MailmanI graduated from Doane College with a degree in Spanish. In college, I worked in a telemedicine lab at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In this position, I cowrote ten scientific articles. I also volunteered as an English as a Second Language teacher's assistant in rural Nebraska. After I graduated, I interned for Possible, a global healthcare organization in Nepal.

Why Mailman?I decided to attend Mailman after meeting with several faculty members. After I received my letter of acceptance, I reached out to a couple of faculty members with whom I wanted to work and they were all very welcoming. I knew Mailman was the right school for me because the faculty were so excited to work with students.

Life at MailmanI enjoyed Tal Gross's Health Economics and Larry Brown's Health Policy courses. I also took the IFAP Global Health Seminar, which I recommend to anyone interested in pursuing a global health career. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy being a member of the Graduate Student Association. I look forward to taking more global health and health policy courses next year.

Life after MailmanAfter graduating from Mailman, I plan to pursue a medical degree. I want to combine my medical and public health knowledge to advance a career in global health. I hope to develop programs to address health disparities.

YULIYA BUSLOVICH

HometownRandolph, NJ, USA

Department, DegreeHealth Policy and Management, MHA

Life before MailmanI attended Tulane University and was a double major in Public Health and Spanish. I was extremely active in my sorority and served as the New Member Director, Event Director, and President. In addition, I worked at the Louisiana Public Health Institute and New Orleans Health Department during my time at Tulane.

Why Mailman?Attending Admitted Students Day made me extremely happy with my decision to attend. Meeting professors and current students gave me an insight about the school, community, and curriculum. I really got to see what makes Mailman unique and how passionate the professors are about creating an engaging environment.

Life at MailmanI have had an amazing experience at Mailman learning from the experiences and achievements of amazing faculty members. In the MHA program, I have especially enjoyed Strategic Management with Professor Thurman, Healthcare Marketing with Professor Winkleman, and Public Health Concepts for Managers with Professor Rosenthal. I am looking forward to applying the skills I learn during my practicum in the classroom next year.

Life after MailmanAfter Mailman, I hope to be working in hospital administration, specifically in quality. I am intersected in strategy and operations, so I hope to utilize my education and knowledge about the healthcare field to improve the quality of patient care in a hospital system.

JAZREEL CHEUNG

HometownPalo Alto, CA, USA

Department, Degree, CertificateEpidemiology, MPH, Health Policy and Practice

Life before MailmanPrior to Mailman, I did my undergrad at UC San Diego, majoring in Biochemistry and Cell Biology. I took a gap year where I interned at a small non-profit organization in San Francisco's Chinatown. I co-led trainings on problem gambling and did a lot of community outreach.

Why Mailman?The Mailman community is very diverse. The professors are very supportive and approachable.

Life at MailmanI have enjoyed Quant and the Foundation module during the CORE. I am currently on the E-board for Association for Justice and Health (AJAH) and I am looking forward to hosting events!

Life after MailmanI would love to integrate Epidemiology and Health Policy as a career, promoting the health of women.

ANNISSA CHI

HometownHong Kong

Department, Degree, CertificateHealth Policy and Management, MPH, Health Policy Analysis

Life before MailmanI worked in Society for AIDS Care, a nonprofit organization in Hong Kong providing rehabilitation and care services for PLWA for 2 years before coming to Mailman.

Why Mailman?I was undecided about which school to go when I came to Mailman on Admitted Students Day last year. I had a great experience with current students and faculty at break out lunch session. Professor Fullilove's presentation on Bard Prison Initiative convinced me that Mailman is a great to impact positive change in society, and I want to be a part of it.

Life at MailmanI enjoyed the Core a lot; the Core has provided me a solid foundation and better understanding for issues across different aspects in public health. Outside of the Core, Health Economics is probably my favorite course thus far. Given my background in Economics, the concepts really speak to me and help me understand fundamental issues in the healthcare industry.

Life after MailmanI would like to work in the nonprofit sector that evaluates health policy and program effectiveness, assessing if current policies or specific health programs efficiently address and solve health issues, particularly those pertaining to access and quality of healthcare.

KAYLIN CORDINGLEY

HometownSan Francisco, Bay Area, CA, USA

Department, Degree, CertificatePopulation and Family Health, MPH, SSRH

Life before MailmanI graduated Phi Beta Kappa from UC Berkeley with a BA in Social Welfare. I studied abroad in South Africa, where I also was a life skills educator and volunteered in a home for babies. I served in the Peace Corps in Albania as a Health Education volunteer, where I also led a girls' group, executed a literacy project, and was a member of the national health task force. After Peace Corps, I worked as a communications professional at a Kenyan non-profit that focuses on the empowerment of women and girls in Kenya's slums.

Why Mailman?I wanted to continue living in New York City and I was so fortunate to have a program in the city that was perfect for me. I was incredibly impressed with the faculty at Mailman and was really excited to take the Core and explore the many facets of public health. I liked that Mailman was structured and would allow me to explore my numerous interests, while still having a strong focus and direction in the program.

Life at MailmanI loved BEDH and Foundations in the Core, I love ISP, and I am really enjoying Leadership this semester. Amy Fairchild, Helen de Pinho, Greg Freyer, Ron Bayer, Linda Cushman, and Deb Kalmuss are some of the many fabulous professors that I have had so far. Being a part of SHAG, as well as going to their events last semester, has been highlight, as well as lunch seminars. I am really excited for practicum and meeting more professors.

Life after MailmanMy career focus thus far has been concerning social justice. I hope to be in programs or communications at a non-profit that focuses on social justice, likely involving women internationally.

JANICE DESMANGLES

HometownNew York, NY, USA

Department, Degree, CertificatePopulation and Family Health, MPH, SSRH

Life before MailmanI graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University where I studied Psychology and African American Studies with a concentration in health. While I was a student at VCU, I was a part of several student organizations. Those organizations included VCU's NAACP Chapter, the Black Student Union, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and an organization that I founded called Inspiring and Manifesting Positive Aspirations in Children and Teens (I.M.P.A.C.T). After graduating I worked as a Mental Health Provider and a Direct Support Professional working with clients who had mental disabilities and psychiatric disorders. While working, I volunteered with the Minority Health Consortium and also with Big Brother Big Sister. I later joined the Peace Corps and served as a Healthy Youth Advisor in Lesotho, Southern Africa from 2013 until 2015.

Why Mailman?Talking to family and friends helped me in making my decision to join Mailman. Accepting admission into a program is decision that requires thoughtful consideration and support. I weighed the pros and cons and in the end I felt Mailman was best choice for me.

Life at MailmanThough the Core was very difficult, looking back, it was one of my most rewarding experiences here at Mailman. I had the opportunity to see Public Health through an array of lenses and I learned a lot. The Core also gave me the opportunity to connect with my peers and form meaningful relationships. I am currently the Historian for the Black and Latino Student Caucus and I am looking forward to working with the organization. I am also looking forward to learning more and taking advantage of the opportunities that Mailman has both professionally and personally.

Life after MailmanI'd like to work in the Public Health Sector and I am very interested in working with Adolescents on Sexual and Reproductive Health. My interests also include working in the field of HIV/AIDS on an international level. I enjoy interacting face to face with people and I most likely see myself conducting interventions and engaging with people in the field.

DIVYA DEVLI

HometownMumbai, India

Department, DegreeHealth Policy and Management, MHA

Life before MailmanI graduated from Purdue University in 2011 with a degree in Business Management. I love working with others, and I served as a Teaching Assistant and Resident Assistant at Purdue. Upon graduation, I went to work for Facebook, where I spent almost four years improving the overall experience for our users. I also enjoy dancing, and founded Facebook's Bollywood Dancing club. I'm the President of the Graduate Student Association at Mailman. I speak four languages - English, Hindi, Marathi, and Gujarati. I'm a trained Indian Classical vocalist with 9 years of experience.

Why Mailman?There were a number of reasons that helped me make my decision. The Mailman community is committed to marrying health education with service delivery in the local community. The student body is a mirror of New York - with graduate students who typically represent more than 40 nations. Professors have passion and conviction and you can see it coming through in their teaching. The faculty, staff, and students are warm, welcoming, and collaborative.

Life at MailmanI have throughly enjoyed my time at Mailman, and value the immersive experience offered here. My professors have been extremely approachable, and are committed to helping their students learn. They truly care about their students. I have enjoyed working with my fellow students, and can thrive in the collaborative environment. I am looking forward to working more closely with faculty, and fellow students to create real-world impact.

Life after MailmanI’m passionate about using technology to improve healthcare, and I would love to work in the health startup space because I believe this is the area that will drive efficiencies in healthcare.

RIANNA DIBARTOLO-CORDOVANO

HometownMadison, CT, USA

Department, Degree, CertificateEpidemiology, MPH, Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Life before MailmanI graduated from the University of Richmond with a B.S. in Mathematics and a minor in Biology. I worked at the Yale Climate and Energy Institute and assisted with early stages of the development of the Climate System & Human Health Initiative, the organization of the "Forum on Integration of Climate Science and Infectious Disease Research” and in website development.

Why Mailman?The clear commitment to providing students an interdisciplinary public health education, as demonstrated by the Core, the multiple certificates offered, and the ability to take electives that are outside one's department or certificate.

Life at MailmanCommunicable Diseases in Complex Emergencies with Dr. Rachel Moresky, Research Ethics & Responsible Conduct of Research with Dr. John Santelli, and Epidemiological Modeling for Infectious Diseases with Dr. Wan Yang are some of the most interesting and practical classes that I have taken at MSPH thus far.

Life after MailmanI hope to pursue a career that combines epidemiological and complex systems modeling (especially for development and analysis of prevention, mitigation and intervention strategies for epidemic and emerging infectious diseases/complex emergencies) and examination of ethical and equity issues, especially those arising in infectious disease research, public health surveillance and emergency response.

ASHLEY GECZIK

HometownMilltown, NJ, USA

Department, Degree, CertificateEpidemiology, MPH, Chronic Disease Epidemiology

Life before MailmanI attended undergrad at Loyola University located in Baltimore, Maryland and graduated with a BS in Biology in 2015. While at Loyola I worked as a technical laboratory assistant in the biology department, which is where I discovered my passion for scientific research. I was inducted as member of Loyola University Maryland chapter of the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honors Society in 2014.

Why Mailman?Meeting with current students during Admitted Students Day last year helped me in making my decision to attend Mailman. I felt as though the students I met really enjoyed their time at Mailman. Hearing genuine comments about the program really aided in my decision making process.

Life at MailmanThe courses at Mailman that I have enjoyed the most are the Health Systems CORE classes, ISP, Chronic Disease Epidemiology, and the BEDH CORE classes. I am a member of the CUMC Dance Haven, which brings together students who enjoy dancing from all of the CUMC schools. I have been dancing since I was 5 years old, so I was excited to find out that while in graduate school I would still have the opportunity to dance on campus and perform in showcase performances. Dance Haven has been a great break from outside the campus shared with students from the CUMC community. I am looking forward to participating more in the club FPOP, which I am a working board member for. I am also looking forward to the variety of classes that I have the option of taking during my remaining time at Mailman. I also hope to get involved in assisting a professor with their research either as a volunteer or a practicum position.

Life after MailmanI hope to go on to receive my PhD in either cancer epidemiology or cancer biology. I am interested in primarily focusing my research on either kidney or ovarian cancer. I hope to pursue academic research in order to conduct my own personal research as well as teach at the undergraduate or graduate level.

ASHLEY GRIPPER

HometownPhiladelphia, PA, USA

Department, Degree, CertificateEpidemiology, MPH, Advanced Epidemiology

Life before MailmanBefore Mailman, I was employed with the Agatston Urban Nutrition Initiative in Philadelphia (AUNI), working closely with youth from various underserved, low-income areas in West Philadelphia to educate and empower their peers and the broader community around food justice, nutrition, wellness, and community sovereignty. Prior to AUNI, I attended Arcadia University where I studied Sociology.

Why Mailman?I wanted to be a part of a program not based on its name and prestige, but based on its content, quality, and opportunities. Of all the programs for which I applied, Mailman's was the one most aligned to my personal passion, interests, and career aspirations.

Life at MailmanMy favorite class without a doubt has been Biological and Environmental Determinants of Health. BEDH turned out to be the most fascinating and enlightening course I've taken so far! Outside of classes, I have really enjoyed being a part of a major student group on campus. It is giving me an opportunity to develop and strengthen my leadership and event planning abilities. I think I'm most looking forward to my summer practicum (TBD) and starting my certificate courses in the Fall. I expect that they will be challenging, but in a very rewarding and gratifying way. In terms of faculty, I have worked closely with Dr. Gina Lovasi on some of her projects and with Dr. Dana March as an advisor. They are both wonderful!

Life after MailmanMy career aspirations are complicated and I am still in the process of trying to envision my dream job but it goes something like this: I really care about food, food justice, and supporting communities in really having ownership and sovereignty over what it is they eat and put into their bodies. I have recently been interested in looking in how food impacts our health and the course of disease. I've heard it referred to before as "Food as Medicine." Long-term, I would like to look at mental health, obesity, and the role food plays as a mediator between the two. I am also interested in researching how the nutritiousness of food impacts the progression of infectious diseases. Though I am interested in some research areas, I do know for certain that professorship is not the path for me.

ANGELIKA M GUTIERREZ

HometownJersey City, NJ, USA

Department, Degree, CertificatePopulation and Family Health, MPH,

Public Health Research Methods

Life before MailmanPrior to starting my MPH at Mailman, I was worked as a Health Insurance Program Manager at a non-profit on the Upper East Side called Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, and I taught English in Ecuador for a year. I attended The College of New Jersey for undergrad and majored in Sociology.

Why Mailman?I participated in Columbia's Summer Public Health Scholars Program in 2012. The program exposed me to Mailman's faculty, courses, and internship opportunities. This solidified my interest in attending such a prestigious institution.

Life at MailmanI enjoyed Quant during the Core, as well as my current Latino Health Disparities and EPI II courses. I'm looking forward to learning more skills that I'll be able to apply as a public health practitioner.

Life after MailmanIt is my personal goal to continue working toward mitigating health disparities within the Latino population both domestically and internationally. Once I complete my MPH, I intend to work on strengthening Latin American public health programs and interventions. Another personal goal is to eventually conduct research in Puerto Rico. Puerto Ricans are disproportionately affected by illnesses in comparison to other Latino sub-groups. However, little research is done on how the island’s history and current political status have affected the health of Puerto Ricans both on the both the island and mainland.

BRIANNA ISAACSON

HometownRochester, NY, USA

Department, Degree, CertificateSociomedical Sciences, MPH, Health and Human Rights

Life before MailmanI just graduated from University of Rochester last spring, where I majored in Health, Behavior, & Society and had a minor in Gender Studies.

Why Mailman?I was looking for a specifically social justice oriented program that would prepare me for practice, not just research. On Admitted Student's Day, Dr. Fullilove greeted us by saying: "You're here because you're angry. You're angry about the world and you want to change it" and I knew I was in the right place.

Life at MailmanMy favorite course so far is Evaluation of Health Programs with Dr. Fullilove. Looking forward to the year ahead of me as treasurer for Queer Health Task Force.

Life after MailmanI am seeking a social justice oriented job in New York City.

PRADHITA MADDIREDDY

HometownAtlanta, GA, USA

Department, Degree, CertificateHealth Policy and Management, MPH, CEOR

Life before MailmanI went from undergrad directly to medical school. During which, I decided I didn't want to practice medicine, so I worked for a while with the GA Dept of Public Health in Acute Disease Epidemiology and HIV Surveillance.

Why Mailman?I thought Mailman, Columbia, and NYC in general would provide me the opportunities to do the things that I had planned for my life.

Life at MailmanI enjoyed ReMA with Dr. Vaughn, and now I really like Accounting and Budgeting with Professor Engel and Health Econ with Professor Gross. I looking forward to getting some practical experience with all the information and skills I have learned.

Life after MailmanI enjoy moving around and changing the problems I am working on and seeing the effect of work, so I am interested in healthcare consulting.

ISHANI MATHUR

HometownLos Angeles, CA, USA

Department, Degree, CertificateEpidemiology, MPH,

Comparative Effectiveness and Outcomes Research

Life before MailmanI graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor of Science in Physiological Science, and a minor in South Asian Studies. I was heavily involved in pre-medical activities and organizations, as well as non-profit global health and social justice organizations. After graduating, I worked as a medical scribe with UCLA Health for one year, prior to starting my MPH at Columbia.

Why Mailman?Mailman is a very close-knit community, and very supportive of one another. The professors are amazing resources, and very willing to mentor you. The practicum requirement is also a great way to get your foot in the door in whichever area you want to work in once you graduate. And last but not least, New York City is an AMAZING place to live and work!

Life at MailmanThe Human Rights course with Lynn Freedman in the Foundations studio was excellent and thought-provoking, as was the entire Health Systems studio. I am looking forward to taking more classes in my certificate, and getting to know the professors better.

Life after MailmanI am interested in pharmaco-epidemiology, as well as improving global access to drugs and vaccines. I would love to work with a pharmaceutical company comparing effectiveness/cost-effectiveness of drugs and vaccines, as well as work with the UN on improving access to healthcare around the globe, and using outcomes research to inform global policies.

NINA ORWITZ

HometownCherry Hill, NJ, USA

Department, DegreeBiostatistics, MS

Life before MailmanBefore Mailman, I was an undergraduate student at Northwestern University, where I was a biological sciences major. I had an incredible four years taking many stimulating liberal arts courses side-by-side with my neurobiology concentration classes. I also had great opportunities where I was involved in both public health research in downtown Chicago and I received a university grant to perform developmental neurobiology research in a lab.

Why Mailman?I felt that the Mailman community really promoted collaboration and diversity and I have found that to be very true in my time here at Mailman so far. When I attended admitted students day, the Dean and other administrators really emphasized the importance of working with others in this field, and for me that was very important because I like to be a part of a team and interact with others every day.

Life at MailmanI have really enjoyed all of my biostatistics courses so far, and have been very grateful that I get to interact with the Biostatistics faculty so frequently! In particular, I loved my Computing with SAS course taught by Dr. Codruta Chiuzan. The class was incredibly useful in learning the most important statistical procedures in SAS and getting to perform analyses on actual clinical trial data was exciting and interesting. I am really looking forward to the opportunity to take a drug development class next year because I am very interested in the statistical work being done at pharmaceutical companies.

Life after MailmanI am considering pursuing a PhD in Biostatistics, but I think I would first like to work as a statistical programmer/analyst for a pharmaceutical company or a CRO. My main interests lie in clinical trial work. I find drug development a fascinating and complex process that I want to contribute to.

TAYLAR PEOPLES

HometownPompano Beach, FL, USA

Department, Degree, CertificateEpidemiology, MPH, Social Determinants of Health

Life before MailmanI received a Bachelor's of Science in Psychology with a minor in Women's Studies from the University of Central Florida. As a McNair Scholar, I was a research assistant at the UCF Marriage and Family Research Institute. From the research I conducted here, I became interested in families coping with chronic disease and eventually the field of public health. I was later accepted into the 2014 CUMC Summer Public Health Scholars Program, where I explored the health outcomes and psychosocial factors for older adults in Harlem. I have presented at many research conferences and won the Social Sciences Poster Presentation Award at the 2014 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students.

Why Mailman?After participating in the CUMC Public Health Scholars Program, I felt welcomed and supported by the Mailman community. This program provided me with the knowledge and resources to tailor my career pursuit and eventually make a difference in my community and from this I knew as a student Mailman had even more to offer.

Life at MailmanMy favorite class so far is Social and Economic Determinants of Health with Dr. Helen-Maria Lekas, her approach to health outcomes based on so many different societal factors is so illuminating. Her class stimulates critical thinking and deep self-reflection. I am looking forward to more classes that approach to public health introduced historical roots, past failures, and critical thinking for current public health issues.

Life after MailmanI want to be a Social Epidemiologist working at either a governmental or non-profit organization examining chronic disease prevention and aging from a social lens. I am immensely interested in conducting research that pertains to community participatory research to examine contextual factors contributing to health disparities in minority populations along with social behavioral aspects of disease transmission.

FATIMA RIAZ

HometownIslamabad, Pakistan

Department, Degree, CertificateEnvironmental Health Sciences, MPH, Global Health

Life before MailmanI got my BS in Applied Biosciences from Islamabad, Pakistan where I headed/founded the first public health-themed student organization in the country. I also dabbled in advocacy, leading a national polio awareness campaign with the WHO and the Global Poverty Project.

Why Mailman?My favorite TV show growing up (Will & Grace) had lead characters that attended Columbia and that was my impetus for joining. I'm joking! Okay, half joking. My interest lay in global health and Mailman/New York was an absolutely winning combination.

Life at MailmanIronically, the first semester AKA the dreaded "core" (short for hardcore) was my favorite. There's something about the challenging pace and broad width of the first semester that really gets you acclimated to the vastness of the public health field.

Life after MailmanI'm currently working with UNICEF in the Division of Communications and Public Advocacy, and am finding that quite to my liking. I've also worked with the World Bank's Water and Sanitation Program (WSP) and wouldn't be averse to a career in the WASH sector- particularly in emergency settings. I also aspire to make it to VIB Rogue status at Sephora but that conversation's for another day. And place.

JENNIFER RINGLER

HometownSan Francisco, CA, USA

Department, DegreeHealth Policy and Management, MHA

Life before MailmanPrior to beginning at Mailman, I earned my bachelor's degree from UC Berkeley (Go Bears!) in Molecular Biology and minored in Music. Following graduation, I worked at the UCSF Medical Center in San Francisco in a type 1 diabetes research laboratory. There I studied human embryonic stem cells' behavior under experimental conditions with the goal of creating functional human beta-cells, later transitioning into the role of Lab Manager. It was at that point I knew I wished to pursue a career in health management and began the graduate school application process.

Why Mailman?A major part of helping me differentiate Mailman from other schools was the great quality of support I received from staff even prior to accepting my offer of admission! Though you can get a great educational experience in a number of places or ways, the fact that Mailman genuinely cared about their students' success and well-being was something I valued, and thus impacted my decision to join the Mailman community.

Life at MailmanMy favorite faculty member to work with has to be Professor Ference. He has been such a great mentor and resource throughout my first semester, making himself available to help with interview prep and career guidance though unrelated to course materials. It's people like Professor Ference that make Mailman the great place it is. It takes only a brief moment to see Professor Ference's deep dedication to supporting his students and helping them achieve their goals and full potential.

Life after MailmanFollowing graduation from Mailman, I hope to begin a career in health administration in the hospital setting. I am particularly interested in improving patient experiences and studying quality measures and outcomes.

QIANHUI SHAO

HometownAnhui, China

Department, Degree, CertificateEpidemiology, MPH, CEOR

Life before MailmanI am a Chinese international student. With the curiosity in the field of "micro-world", I chose my undergraduate major in molecular genetics. Also, as a formal pre-dent student, I spend most of my extra-curricular time in lab research. My interests in public health developed over my senior year, when the Ebola epidemic raised up as a hot topic. I gained knowledge about epidemiology, and started some research in infectious diseases. My interests include (but are not limited to) piano, swimming, and photography. I am a self-taught photographer, and have won some prizes on some small exhibitions. I am really excited to be a member of Mailman, and I am looking forward to sharing my experience with everyone else.

Why Mailman?I was attracted by more than 20 certificates at Mailman. I am an EPI student now, but I can learn about policy by choosing a CEOR certificate.

Life at MailmanI have to say, I missed CORE a lot. Also, Career Services here is really awesome. Even though I am only a first year graduate student, I feel I am ready for job market with the help of Career Services.

Life after MailmanI am looking a practicum right now. I am looking for a position in which I can work on decreasing health disparities among diverse populations.

JAZMINE WONG

HometownCastro Valley, CA, USA

Department, Degree, CertificateSociomedical Sciences, MPH, Chronic Disease Epidemiology

Life before MailmanWhen I was studying Anthropology and Public Health at my undergraduate university, I was really interested in combining both disciplines into the study of health. To me, this seemed to be the best approach to learn about perspectives of health across populations of different cultural backgrounds. As an undergraduate student, I used this method to study the attitudes towards depression and the utilization of mental health services in Asian Americans. The experience and knowledge I gained from my studies became my main motivation for pursuing a master's degree in Public Health.

Why Mailman?The decision was not really too hard for me. I knew I wanted to study at a university that was well-known for their academic curriculum in Public Health and I also knew I wanted to experience the exciting NYC life.

Life at MailmanI'm looking forward to building stronger relationships with my peers and professors. Everyone has so much to learn from each other and these relationships will help you grow both personally and academically. I enjoyed The Core because it was a great introduction to many different areas of public health. After completing it, I felt that I had a better idea of which paths to take for my remaining semesters at Mailman.

Life after MailmanI want to further my education by pursuing a doctoral degree. I'm interested in the areas of study that are lacking in research, such as mental health in minority groups, and I hope to one day put everything that I've learned into practice.

YING XUE

HometownShanghai, China

Department, Degree, CertificateEpidemiology, MPH, Applied Biostatistics

Life before MailmanI graduated from Fudan University in China and worked in a local health bureau afterwards. My biggest achievement so far is good academic performance at Mailman and one publication in a major journal.

Why Mailman?The Buddy Program attacted me.

Life at MailmanI enjoyed Applied Regression 1 and Quantitative Methods the most. I am looking forward to more EPI and BIOSTATS classes.

Life after MailmanI would like to work as a data analyst in the future.

BRIAN YIM

HometownHouston, TX, USA

Department, Degree, CertificateSociomedical Sciences, MPH, CEOR

Life before MailmanI came straight from college with a degree in public health. Most of my professional experiences dealt with mentoring, tutoring, and communicating with people of diverse backgrounds.

Why Mailman?I went to Admitted Students Day last year and fell in love with everything about the school.

Life at MailmanDr. Lekas - First professor I met at Columbia! Her course in the Social and Economic Determinants of Health has really opened my eyes to other angles to view public health. I am looking forward to my courses in the future and all the connections that I will make with peers and faculty.

Life after MailmanI would like to become a public health physician.