PhD in Neuroscience, Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Summer 2022

Plans after graduation: "I will be pursuing a post-doctoral fellowship to continue doing neuroscientific research."

Biggest accomplishment as a graduate student: "While I am really proud of all the technical skills and scientific knowledge I gained, I am most grateful for the relationships I made along the way. The last few years especially made me realize that, in terms of success and doing good science, the people you work with are one of the most important factors. I am proud of the life-long friends I’ve made and I’m looking forward to celebrating their accomplishments and continued success. I was also fortunate to have excellent, incredibly supportive mentors who will continue to be a source of inspiration and support even after I leave UAB."

PhD in Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Summer 2022

Plans after graduation: "I have accepted a postdoctoral fellowship in Dr. Stephanie Hicks’ lab in the Department of biostatistics at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health starting summer 2022. I aspire to become a collaborative methodologist who innovates quantitative analysis of biomedical data conceptually and methodologically in the long term. Ultimately, I hope my research can contribute to the understanding and the improvement of health disparity, particularly relevant to but not limited to the AAPI community."

Biggest accomplishment as a graduate student: "My biggest accomplishment during graduate training is to join the Reasons for Geographic And Racial Disparities in Stroke (REGARDS) study team as a quantitative researcher. This privileged experience sharpens my technical skills and connects me with other inspiring researchers who share the same passion for addressing health disparity issues. Most importantly, the research experience translates to my personal life. It helps me grow a deeper understanding of diversity and inclusion and reminds me to minimize my personal bias in my daily life."

PhD in Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Spring 2022

Plans after graduation: "I have decided to follow my interest in research and remain in the field of academia."

Biggest accomplishment as a graduate student: "Mentoring and teaching at graduate level is a significant step towards training a future academic leader. I have mentored four master's level data-science students and trained them for sophisticated next generation sequencing and multi-omics biological data analysis and interpretations. Furthermore, I am teaching the entire course of functional genomics and systems biology to undergraduate students in Spring 2022. My passion of teaching has improved my communication and social skills, which are valuable attributes for a perspective academic leader."

Medical/Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program, College of Arts and Sciences, Summer 2022

Plans after graduation: "My goal immediately following graduation is to begin a postdoctoral fellowship in child psychology and prepare to apply for licensure as a clinical psychologist."

Biggest accomplishment as a graduate student: "I feel most proud of the personal and professional growth that I have undergone through my graduate training, including developing skills as a researcher, clinician, teacher, leader, and mentor."

PhD in Nursing, School of Nursing, Summer 2022

Plans after graduation: "After graduation, I will begin the Child Health Equity Research Program for Post-doctoral Trainees within the University of Washington (UW) Department of Pediatrics under the mentorship of Dr. Teresa Ward, Professor at the UW School of Nursing. During my post-doctoral fellowship, I will continue my research in pediatric sleep health disparities while exploring how schools impact sleep health. I will also focus on learning more about community-based participatory research to prepare for my future goal of developing school-based and community-based behavioral interventions in disadvantaged populations."

Biggest accomplishment as a graduate student: "My biggest accomplishment has been my ability to push through adversity while helping others prioritize their wellness and feel supported during their graduate studies. I reached the dissertation phase of my program at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I had to change my research study. I also had an emergency surgery during the same year, which led to me facing obstacles in every aspect of my life. With the support of my husband, family, mentors, especially Dr. Marti Rice, and my Coalition, I was able to prevail, and I am about to graduate. Despite my challenges, I wanted to help other students avoid or better manage the burdens they may face. I was selected as an American Association of Colleges of Nursing/Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation Student Ambassador, where I helped facilitate a mental health presentation during our PhD in Nursing Intensive. I also presented on wellness and work-life harmony for incoming PhD in Nursing students. As I transition to my next phase in research, I plan to continue advocating for student wellness and work/school-life harmony."

Master of Public Administration, College of Arts and Sciences, Spring 2022

Plans after graduation: “I plan to continue to work at UAB in the Heersink School of Medicine, OBGYN Department where I will use the skills obtained through the MPA program to become a better leader and work to make a difference in the lives of others.”

Biggest accomplishment as a graduate student: “Working full time, attending graduate school, and mentoring fellow students during COVID is certainly my biggest accomplishment. In my Nonprofit Management class, another classmate and I created a business plan for a fictitious Crisis Intervention Training nonprofit geared towards helping to increase the quality of life for those living with mental illness by providing training for police officers in Jefferson County. I also wrote a policy brief on infertility and the disparities created by the lack of mandated and regulated insurance coverage in the US. This incredible program and the exceptional MPA faculty have forever impacted my life.”

Dietitian Education Program, Master of Science in Nutrition Sciences, School of Health Professions, Spring 2022

Plans after graduation: “As I complete the semester, I am keeping an open mind as far as post-graduate jobs. Caring for patients one-on-one through providing nutrition counseling and education have been highlights of my time in healthcare facilities. Thus, I plan to pursue a role that allows me to continue to provide patient care in a clinical setting. However, I have enjoyed my other rotations as well, so I am staying open to other opportunities and directions in which I could go for my first role as a registered dietitian.”

Biggest accomplishment as a graduate student: “Going into graduate school for nutrition after being a teacher was a significant change of pace. However, the Dietitian Education Program provided all the tools I needed to dive in, learn new subject matter, and ultimately to locate and secure rotations tailored to my newfound knowledge base and interests. It has been a joy and a privilege to become part of a new-to-me field that I really love.”

Master of Science in Multidisciplinary Biomedical Sciences, Joint Health Sciences, Summer 2022

Plans after graduation: "After graduation I will be joining the Graduate Biomedical Sciences program here at UAB to pursue my PhD in Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics. I am excited to start and dive into the field of aging and neurodegenerative disease research."

Biggest accomplishment as a graduate student: "I feel like being in this program has taught me a lot of new skills such as developing my critical thinking skills and becoming more confident about my science. I think that my biggest accomplishment this far has been working with my P.I. to submit a Diversity Award to the NIH. This was approved and has helped me stay focused on my science and bettering my skills as I progress through the program."

Master of Arts in Education in Community Health with Non-Profit Management Graduate Certificate, School of Education and Human Sciences - Community Health and Human Services, Spring 2022

Plans after graduation: "I hope to continue living, working, and giving back to my hometown of Selma, AL. Selma has great potential and has many citizens who are working day in and out to make it a better place. I am currently a program director operating under the Dallas County System of Services, a collaborative organization with the goal to see a prosperous community. UAB has given me the skills to help further our cause and hope for a better Alabama Black Belt."

Biggest accomplishment as a graduate student: "My greatest accomplishment was building the Black Belt Workforce Initiative program while attending Graduate School at UAB. It allowed me to put into practice the principles I was learning in class. I learned how to build a strong program through planning and evaluation, and through my Nonprofit Management classes learned the importance of building strong partnerships and the danger of operating in silos."