Maria Diaz

When I applied to UNC Charlotte, I had already lived here for two years through my time as a Teach for America Corps Member. When making the decision for a graduate program, I had considered where my roots had been for the past two years as a major reason for choosing to attend UNC Charlotte. Additionally, UNC Charlotte was the most cost-effective choice of the universities I had been admitted to.

Dr. Mark DeHaven has a rich history in community involvement, advocacy for improved health and quality of life of underserved communities. He was an amazing mentor during my time at UNC Charlotte. He introduced me to many people who had similar passions, talents, and perspectives. It influenced my trajectory in my choice for employment upon graduation. He has since retired, but continues to do impactful work.

While in my MPH graduate program, I had the opportunity to work as a GA in the Academy for Research on Community Health, Engagement and Services (ARCHES) with Dr. DeHaven. During my time with ARCHES, I was able to apply the foundational blocks of knowledge I was learning in my coursework to strengthen my practical experience and learning. It was extremely beneficial in my preparation to go into the workforce.

My favorite memory is from my first semester in graduate school. We had a paper due for Dr. Michelle and the entire class, for the most part, all performed below average and had low scores. I remember thinking there is no way I wrote a paper that had such a low score in GRADUATE school. Since it was a collective sentiment, it made us all also feel much better that she was a tough critic of our writing. It was extremely beneficial for me to have received that score. It was a wakeup call to submit higher quality work. I am thankful for Dr. Michelle and how it influenced my journey.