I’m proud to be a 4th/5th mixed-ethnicity Japanese American born and raised in Seattle in the Online MPH program! After completing my undergraduate degree at Yale University in History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health, and spending a couple of years abroad in Japan, China, and Taiwan for language and culture study, I felt ready to come back to my hometown to start my career.

Since 2017, I have worked at Asian Counseling and Referral Service as Policy Manager, which provides vital social services to over 30,000 community members annually in over 30 languages. I currently serve as the policy manager, helping to oversee and lead our legislative advocacy efforts. 

My recent involvement in the Health Equity for Immigrants Campaign to ensure all undocumented Washingtonians can receive healthcare led me to realize that it was time to deepen my public health knowledge and skills. With this program, I have been able to maintain my employment while getting my degree, while also teaching yoga and being a cat dad!  The program has been a wonderful experience so far and I have learned so much from my instructors and peers.

Hello! My name is Maleah Nore. I’m Tlingit (Alaska Native) and I was raised in Southeast Alaska. I first started my public health journey when I became a survivor of childhood abuse. An overwhelming anger at the system pushed me to try to make a difference. I’ve now been working as a Tribal Public Health Contractor on grassroots and non-profit projects relating to the prevention of child abuse, domestic violence, and suicide in tribal communities for over 7 years.

I chose the Online MPH program because I wanted a program that would support my Indigenous worldview, provide an engaging and valuable educational experience, and be flexible enough for me to continue working. I made the right choice! I’m so happy to be in this program. I feel deeply supported by the teaching staff and my peers, and I learn useful skills every week.

With my MPH, I hope to support tribal resilience and mental wellbeing through prevention and treatment centered around cultural connection with the natural world. I don’t know what that career will look like yet, but I trust the Online MPH program will help me get there.

I grew up in Yellow Springs, Ohio and earned a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Cincinnati in 2016. Since graduating, I have worked at non-profits, focusing on advocacy, community engagement, and managing direct service programs in diverse communities.  

My public health journey began during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading vaccine efforts in King County’s Black communities at the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle. I also served as a Thought Partner for the Washington State Department of Health, supporting equity strategies throughout the pandemic. Currently, I am a Graduate Research Assistant at the Center for Anti-Racism and Community Health, a community-driven academic hub and research center within the UW.

I chose the Online MPH program to blend academic knowledge with my practical experience. Particularly, I wanted to learn more about health communication, health behavior theory, and implementing public health interventions. This program allows me to attend a world-class institution, while having flexibility in my schedule. Also, I love the emphasis on equity and social justice, and being part of a cohort filled with inspiring, like-minded people.  

Hi! My name is Mayra and I live in Olympia with my dog Swiper. In 2017, I graduated from the UW with a BA in Medical Anthropology and Global Health. I am a Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence Advocate at SafePlace, a non-profit organization serving domestic violence, sexual assault, and sex trafficking survivors of all genders. This work is meaningful to me as a survivor myself and because I believe survivors deserve to be heard, have choices, and a safe path to healing and empowerment.
 
I chose the Online MPH program because I wanted the opportunity to move towards my goals, while not creating burdens for myself. As a low-income, disabled, Latinx woman, currently undergoing treatments in my county, I needed a program that aligned with my goals, but also had a flexible schedule. I was interested learning skills to improve policy and processes for survivors at the state level.

Growing up in a low-income community scarred by gang violence and substance abuse, I was motivated at an early age to explore approaches for building healthy communities. After completing a bachelor’s degree in community development and a Master of Public Administration, I worked in a variety of municipal operations before joining the City of Pasadena Public Health Department, where I currently serve as Deputy Director.

I quickly recognized the potential of public health programs, which sparked my interest in program areas beyond my assigned duties. I set out to learn about public health concepts, including social determinants of health and health equity. In 2019, I was promoted to deputy director and decided to return to the classroom to make the most of my new role.

I was drawn to the UW Online MPH program due to the focus on health equity and social justice. While working full time, I am improving my ability to lead and facilitate upstream interventions and systems change. The virtual classes and team approach promote a thoughtful exchange of ideas and build meaningful relationships with classmates and faculty alike. The comprehensive curriculum is balanced to develop both practitioners and those interested in academia.

Now more than ever, the field of public health needs leaders capable of facilitating changes to improve health outcomes, and I applaud your decision to pursue a graduate degree in the field.

I am a born and raised Washingtonian, spending most of my life in Tacoma. My younger sister and I were raised by my Japanese and Irish mother and African American father. After graduating with my Bachelor of Science in Public Health from UW Seattle, I joined the United States Army reserve, where I still serve as a Civil Affairs Officer. I also sit on a Veteran Foundation board, chair an Equity and Trauma Informed Leadership Committee, and coach my son’s sports teams, in addition to working as a Healthy Communities Supervisor at Snohomish Health District.

I supervise many public health programs, such as opioid prevention; advancing health literacy; vaccine education; safe schools; suicide prevention; and tobacco, vaping, and marijuana prevention. I’m honored to support such amazing people and the incredible work they do. I bring much of what I learn from this program into my everyday work to increase equitable access to services and support for our historically underrepresented communities.

I chose the UW Online MPH program because of its rigorous curriculum, online convenience and focus on equity and social determinants of health. Being a full-time working mother of two young kids and a teenager, having a firefighter husband and being an actively serving military officer, the quality and the flexibility of the program were important to me.

As the daughter of immigrant parents, my culture is an integral part of who I am. Born and raised in Los Angeles, I witnessed firsthand the health disparities experienced in marginalized communities, which influenced my decision to pursue a degree in public health.

I attended Cal State Northridge and received a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Over the last six years, I have worked as a Care Coordinator at Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, at a residential substance use program for women experiencing substance use and mental health. The work we do has fueled my passion toward working with underserved communities, especially my Latinx community.

I was drawn to the Online MPH program because it allowed me to work and attend school full time. The focus on solving health disparities played a huge role in my decision to pursue a degree at UW. I enjoy being part of a cohort that is committed to health equity and bridging gaps in our health care system. My hope is to start my own nonprofit organization that will provide services to youth in the foster care system and those who are undocumented.

I was born and raised in Southern California to my Taiwanese immigrant parents. I was the first in my family to be born in the U.S. and the first to navigate the American education system. I made my way to Washington to attend UW as an undergraduate student, majoring in public health with minors in global health and Spanish. Even after undergrad, I knew I wanted to continue learning more about social determinants of health and health equity.

I currently work as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Seattle Children’s Hospital, supporting ADHD pediatric research . Once I joined the workforce, I was met with challenging conversations regarding equity in the workplace and in research, and ultimately, I realized it was time for me to take the next step to pursue a master’s degree.

I’m so happy I chose the Online MPH program! I really appreciate the diversity of this program and the peers I get to interact with regularly. The students in the cohort are all in different stages of life and experience, which has deeply enriched the experience for me.

I am a Public Health Nurse with Public Health – Seattle & King County and currently serving as an assistant nurse supervisor with our COVID-19 Mobile Vaccination Team. I hold two undergraduate degrees, a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences from Louisiana State University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Hampton University.

My family and I are originally from New Orleans, LA, however we moved to University Place, WA in December 1994. In addition to loving on my family and friends, I really enjoy walking trails, reading, cooking, and learning.

My career goals include continuing to be a practicing PHN in the field, working in nursing leadership, and teaching PH nursing on a collegiate level. Volunteerism is a major part of who I am, and I enjoy working with CBOs that focus on advocating, educating, and advancing the African American community. The online MPH program is a perfect fit for me academically and allows me to work full-time and be a full-time student. I believe the curriculum is preparing me for the leadership roles I’m currently in and hope to achieve in the future.

As a Seattle native, I attended Western Washington University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Community Health. My education led me to become a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES).

My public health career began as a Care Coordinator for Sea Mar Community Health Center. I managed patients with multiple chronic health conditions as part of Apple Health’s Health Home Program. Currently, I work at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement. I am a Community Health Educator focused on rural-designated counties of Western Washington. My work expands the cancer prevention impact by developing and disseminating materials and programs for lung, colorectal, breast, prostate, and cervical cancer.

Since the beginning, I wanted to pursue a master’s program that was rigorous, fulfilling, and accommodating of my work schedule. The UW Online Master of Public Health program seemed like the obvious choice. It has been a fantastic and hard-working experience being a part of this program. I now congratulate you for your interest and pursuit of higher education. Stay safe and stay healthy!