"[My classmates] are my backbone — we are supportive of one another and contribute to each other’s success. Public health is about people, and I want to be around people that make me feel a strong sense of community."

Where did you grow up? Where did you attend undergrad and what was your degree/area of study?

“I grew up in Minneapolis, MN, and have spent my whole life here. I completed my BS in biology at the University of Minnesota (UMN), then finished my MPH in environmental health at the School of Public Health (SPH) in 2022.”

What was that moment in your life when you decided you wanted to study public health?

“I was originally on a pre-med track during undergrad, and began shadowing a pediatrician. They told me that I should consider doing a minor and after a brief search into the minors at UMN, public health piqued my interest. After I learned more about what public health is, I knew that it was the right path for me. I found out that there was an Integrated 4+1 environmental health MPH program at SPH that allows BS majors to complete that degree and an MPH in five years. So, after earning my undergraduate degree, I completed my MPH quickly afterwards.”

What specific issue, problem, or area of research in public health do you care the most about and why? 

“My dissertation is focused on health equity and social vulnerability. Research can take a long time, and there are people who continue to face harm while research is being conducted. I am interested in exploring how our identities and positionality impacts the work that we are doing and how it moderates the effectiveness of public health interventions. Health equity is a broad goal, so I want to take incremental steps to improve health outcomes for marginalized communities now. Part of that is focused on how we conduct research in the first place.”

Why did you choose to come to the U of M School of Public Health? What do you like about studying at SPH?

“My interactions with the people at SPH solidified my decision to study here. Associate Professor Dana Carroll has been an amazing mentor. She has introduced me to different concepts, like social epidemiology, and asks questions that challenge me to think in new ways. I also get along with a lot of my classmates! They are my backbone — we are supportive of one another and contribute to each other’s success. Public health is about people, and I want to be around people that make me feel a strong sense of community.”

What changes would you like to see at SPH?

“The school needs to understand the political nature of public health. To understand that nature requires sacrificing our stances of neutrality, and to take measures that promote the health and well-being of all people. For example, students have family members that are being impacted by global catastrophes. When our school stays silent about these catastrophes, we are contributing to these students’ pain. We aren’t being antiracist and we aren’t promoting public health. I understand that these conversations are difficult, but that is what we signed up for. We have to have the humanity to choose a side.”

What do you like to do when you’re not in class? 

“I love writing poetry and my poetry utilizes imagery-based language, much like my native tongue Somali, because it captures the essence of the writer’s emotions. I also like soccer, playing games, reading, exploring nature, listening to podcasts, and watching movies! I love learning new things, so I’ll often be exploring different topics whenever I have a chance.”

What do you like about living in Minnesota?

“Living in Minnesota has helped me stay connected to my culture. Strangely, living here feels both like being in the middle of nowhere and the middle of everywhere at the same time. Geographically, we are a ‘flyover’ state. But I have met so many people from different backgrounds, cultures, identities, and walks of life. I feel connected with the people here, and those connections have helped me become a dynamic and passionate person. I have a sense of community that is built upon a diversity of cultures. Because of that, I am confident that I wouldn’t be the person I am if I didn’t live in Minnesota.”