Archives

Try looking in the monthly archives.


Student Spotlight: How did Mollie Kohler’s Deployment with the University of Minnesota’s Extension Center for Family Development Highlight the Connection Between Social Support and Mental Well-being In the Postpartum Period? 

#UMNMCH student Mollie Kohler, she/her (MPH 2023) wrote this reflection on how her experience as a social worker led her to the MCH program and prepared her for a deployment with the UMN Extension Center for Family Development where she worked on a project to improve culturally relevant postpartum social support and maternal well-being. Path […]


Student Spotlight: How are Jenna Kacheroski’s Interests in Women’s Health and Data Storytelling Aligned with her Work on the Minnesota Women’s Health Report Card? 

#UMNMCH student Jenna Kacheroski, she/her (MPH 2023) wrote this reflection on how her undergraduate experiences and deployment working on the MN Women’s Health Report Card have contributed to her career in MCH.  Path to UMN MCH MPH Program  I went to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) to pursue a degree in forensic science. In hindsight, […]


Center Student Spotlights

Spring 2023 Our graduating Center students–Jenna, Rosie, Lauren, and Briana–were asked a few questions about their backgrounds, work, advice, and other fun facts. Jenna Kacheroski Tell Us About Yourself! I am from Burnsville, MN. I grew up reading a ton of books and playing lots of soccer. I always loved clubs in school and participated […]


Student Spotlight: How are Amanda Moses’ Research Internships and MCHIG Executive Member Role Inspiring her Dual MPH/MSW Work?

 #UMNMCH student Amanda Moses (she/her/hers) (MPH 2023) wrote this reflection on how her career, internships, and MCHIG executive board position have all contributed to her career in MCH. Background I started my career in the social work and public health sectors as a youth and family advocate at a local Minnesota nonprofit, Tubman, which transitioned […]


Student Spotlight: How Has Monica Marcial Gutierrez’s position as a WIC Nutritionist and her UMN Student Group Leadership Role Enriched Her Interests in MCH?

#UMNMCH student Monica Marcial Gutierrez (she/her), MPH 2024, wrote this reflection on how her experiences as a WIC nutritionist inspired her to pursue her Master’s in MCH and to become an executive board member of MCHIG Background Pursuing a degree in Maternal and Child Health (MCH) was not in my original career plans. After graduating […]


Student Spotlight: How Did a Deployment to Hennepin County Public Health Inspire Chinenyenwa Elile’s Passion for DEI Work in Child and Youth populations?

#UMNMCH student Chinenyenwa Elile, (she/her), MPH 2024, wrote this reflection on how her Maternal and Child Health (MCH) coursework, student worker positions, and passion for equity work in child and youth populations have all contributed to her career in Maternal and Child Health. Path to the UMN MPH in MCH Program  When choosing a Master […]


Student Spotlight: How Did a Foreign Policy Student Become Part of the UMN MCH Master’s Program?

#UMNMCH student Julieta Barbiero(she/her) wrote this reflection on her path to public health and her work with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). What was your path to the UMN MCH Program? I was not always in the public health field. I received my bachelor’s degree in international studies from American University in Washington, D.C. […]


Student Spotlight: How Did Dae Akre-Fens’ Time Working with Native Youth Highlight the Need for Public Health to Focus on Intersectionality and Indigeneity?

#UMNMCH student Dae Akre-Fens (MPH 2023) wrote this reflection on how her internship with the Indian Health Board and her interest in sexual and reproductive health have contributed to her career in MCH. Background I never thought I would go to grad school. After finishing my bachelor’s in Cultural Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies […]


Student Spotlight: How Did Paige Erickson’s MCH Deployment Seek to Address Mental Health Through a Public Health Lens?

#UMNMCH student Paige Erickson (she/they), MPH 2022, wrote this reflection on how her deployment with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the UMN Extension Center for Family Development let her explore mental health through a maternal and child health lens. Path to the UMN MPH in MCH Program Before coming to the School of […]


Student Spotlight: How is Marielynn Herrera’s Interest in Maternal Immigrant Health Inspiring her Pursuit for Health Equity?

#UMNMCH student Marielynn Herrera (she/her/ella), MPH 2023, wrote this reflection on how her deployment at Centro Tyrone Guzman and background working with family home visiting programs contributed to her career in MCH.  Background My trajectory to the MCH program reflected my professional evolution. After completing my undergraduate degree, I placed a high premium on the […]


Student Spotlight: How Did MacKenzie O’Kane’s Experience Working with Justice-Involved Families Inform her Public Health Career? 

#UMNMCH student MacKenzie O’Kane; she/her/hers (MPH 2023) wrote this reflection on how her coursework, internship, and professional development opportunities have launched her career in public health.  Background I took a rather winding path to the University of Minnesota (UMN) School of Public Health and its Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Program. After graduating from Xavier […]


Student Spotlight: How Did Summer Reid’s PRAMS Deployment Influence her Current MCH Interests?

#UMNMCH student Summer Reid, she/her/hers (MPH 2023) wrote this reflection on how her deployment with the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) working with PRAMS Data helped contribute to her career in Maternal and Child Health (MCH).  Background When I would tell people that I was majoring in biology and women’s and gender studies, people would […]


Student Spotlight: How Did Volunteering as an Abortion Clinic Escort Shape the Direction of Olivia Snow’s Master’s program?

Olivia Snow (She/her; MPH 2025) was one of two #UMNMCH students who received the Robert Ten Bensel Scholarship in 2021-2022. The scholarship is a one-time scholarship awarded annually by Epi to students who demonstrate outstanding potential for contributions to the principles of MCH, human equity, and community social justice. In spring 2022, we invited Olivia […]


Student Spotlight: How is Haley Lipo Zovic’s Interest in Pregnancy, Birth, Health Equity, and Social Justice Contributing to her Graduate Experience, Both In and Outside the Classroom?

#UMNMCH student Haley Lipo Zovic (she/her/hers; MPH 2023) wrote this reflection on how her deployment with the Minnesota Prison Doula Project has not only influenced her academic work throughout her first year but also facilitated her MCH and social justice involvement outside of the classroom. BACKGROUND If you would have asked 18-year-old Haley what her […]