I attended UNC Charlotte for my undergraduate degree and enjoyed every bit of the experience, so it only felt right to continue my education at the University for graduate school. I knew that I had a great support system already established at UNC Charlotte, I enjoyed the area and the campus, I was presented with the opportunity to serve as a graduate assistant within the Department of Public Health Sciences and received funding. To me, it didn’t make sense not to continue my education in Charlotte with so many positive aspects all coming together!
I could not have asked for a better experience working alongside the faculty at UNC Charlotte. Some of my favorite professors within the Department of Public Health Sciences, including Miss Deborah Beete and Dr. Pilar Zuber, still serve as mentors as I navigate my way through the professional workforce. The faculty were the first to encourage me to think bigger, do more, and step outside of my comfort zone whenever possible; I can’t thank them enough for that.
Between the first and second years of my graduate program, I had the opportunity to complete an internship at a free medical clinic in Mooresville, NC called HealthReach Community Clinic. I had such a great experience during my internship and established some strong connections within the organization. About a year and a half after graduating with my master’s degree, I was presented with the opportunity to apply for the role of Associate Director of that very same clinic where I interned two years earlier. Now, I have been at HealthReach for almost four years and have served as the clinic’s Executive Director for two years. I love what I do, and I would not be where I am today if I didn’t have the chance to intern here during my graduate program at UNC Charlotte.
It’s hard to think of a singular favorite moment, but I do have a general happy moment that I remember very vividly! I was taking an online final exam in one of the quiet rooms in the library during the Fall 2019 semester of graduate school. I think the course was KNES 5232: Physiology of Human Aging. As I finished the exam and left the library, the sunset was so beautiful, and I just had to stop and take it all in. There was a feeling of relief for the semester being over, and to make it better, it was quite literally such a beautiful day. I think back on that day with such joy!
UNC Charlotte’s campus feels like a home away from home. After completing multiple degrees at the University and therefore spending a lot of time there, it feels like such a familiar place, and I appreciate that. The campus is not too big but not too small, large enough where you can meet someone new every day but also quaint enough where you see familiar faces wherever you go. It brings me such joy whenever I have the chance to return to the University, whether for a sporting event or to meet with students.
Explore the stories of our Graduate Niners and Faculty who are making a meaningful impact at Charlotte.
