I am a public health student in the Department of Health Promotion and Behavior at the University of Georgia.

As a research assistant in the University’s Cognitive Aging Research and Education (CARE) Center at UGA, I support older adults in the community who are dealing with dementia along with their caregivers. At CARE, I have assisted in the development and evaluation of education tailored for rural Georgians on dementia risk reduction and health promotion. In this role I mentor multiple undergraduate students and tailor the CARE Center’s initiatives to community, medical, and faith leadership stakeholders.

I have also served as a research assistant to the Fishers of Men Initiative where my primary role is to implement and evaluate the CDC’s Diabetes Prevention program in more than 20 African American churches statewide. I also serve as the primary point of contact for community stakeholders.

I am also a student assistant with UGA Archway Partnership. This position has allowed me to help bring the police department, local government, local mental health resources, and academic partners together to collectively implement a co-responder mental health program in Colquitt County.

These diverse set of experiences have led to me having a deep foundation in health promotion, community health, and public administration. I have seen the power of change at a local community level In the future, I intend to apply the skills I’ve acquired and expand my skillset, further equipping me to bridge the gap between policy and community development.