Haleemat Adenuga (FHSC) is a passionate Family Science major, interested in mental health, immigration, and parentification of children; she hopes to go into couple/family/school counseling. Haleemat is committed to helping immigrant and first generation children, especially daughters affected by parentification. Because she is also passionate about community engagement, Haleemat also serves as the Kenya co-project leader for Public Health Beyond Borders. She is also heavily involved in the College Park Scholars Global Health program, where she received a citation of successful completion of a practicum on Female Genital Mutilation and Gender-Based Violence in Migori, Kenya. Haleemat is looking forward to bringing family science perspectives to the DUSAC table!
Marta Brannman (PHP) is a junior majoring in Public Health Practice. Her interests include public health analysis and epidemiology. Marta is currently a Student Health Advisory Committee member, serving as a liaison between the University Health Center and the greater campus community. She is her sorority’s Vice President of Risk Management (educating members on healthy strategies and harm reduction), mentors freshmen as part of the School of Public Health’s Peer Mentor Program, and works as a Healthcare Management Associate at Ally Behavior Centers, an ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy company. Looking ahead, Marta aims to attend graduate school to gain her MSPH, focusing on analyses of international healthcare delivery and outcomes.
Tulsi Patel (PHSC) is majoring in Public Health Science and Biology and minoring in Science, Technology, Ethics, and Policy (STEP). She is pursuing a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology at UMD in the accelerated BS+MPH Program. Her interests in public health range from food insecurity to disease prevention to women’s health. After completing the Masters program, she hopes to apply to medical school and apply evidence-based practices to medical care. She wants to contribute to clinical research and public health studies, helping bridge the gap between scientific findings and practical, clinical interventions. As a physician, she looks forward to incorporating preventive care strategies, like health education and community interventions, into practice, promoting long-term health ans wellness. Outside of academics, Tulsi loves to try new food, travel, and play sports!
Angela Orantes (PHSC) is a first-generation Salvadoran-American Latina raised in Maryland, a senior Public Health Science major, with a Spanish Heritage Language and Latina/o Culture minor, at the School of Public Health. Angela has always been passionate about working with children, mental health, and helping out her community. She is a research assistant for Family Science Professor, Ghaffar Ali Hurtado Choque, Ph.D., working on projects Familias Activas and Project OCHO. She is also on the Executive Board as Treasurer for the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) on campus. Her goal is to earn a Master’s in Public Health and attend medical school and become a physician to work with Latino families and children to promote and educate on physical and mental health and well-being in her community.
Riya Malhotra (PHP) is a junior, majoring in Public Health Practice, and minoring in General Business. With a strong foundation in public health research and epidemiology, she has contributed to various projects around cancer detection, antibiotic resistance, and health disparities. Riya is actively involved in several organizations including including Eta Sigma Gamma, a national health education honorary society, and the UMD EntouRAAS Dance Team. She also serves on the Student Health Advisory Committee, acting as a liaison between the University Health Center and the broader campus community. Riya plans to pursue an MPH in Epidemiology and a career in public health analysis, in order to develop data-driven policy and improve community health outcomes.
Virginia Lee (GBHL) is a sophomore pursuing a double degree in Global Health and Social Data Science with a concentration in government, politics, and international relations. She is interested in a career in health policy and is considering applying to law school. She hopes to use her technical skills from data science and skills from her legal background to approach health policy. She is passionate about preventing chronic disease and improving youth mental health. She is also curious to see how we can use artificial intelligence as a tool and develop solutions to the health issues we face in the field of public health.
Joi Kenner (PHP) is a sophomore majoring in Public Health Practice with a background in HIV education, sexual health, and health equity research. They have contributed as a HIV peer health educator and research assistant on projects focused on addressing public health challenges in underserved communities. Joi is passionate about promoting sexual health awareness and advancing global health initiatives. In the future, they aim to pursue doctoral studies in public health to explore innovative strategies for reducing health disparities and expanding access to reproductive healthcare.
Nashrah Rahman (PHP) is a Public Health major with a strong interest in healthcare administration and plans to pursue a Master of Public Health (MPH) in graduate school. On campus, she serves as the President of Eta Sigma Gamma and a Student Ambassador for the Public Health Practice major, showcasing her leadership and dedication to the field. Nashrah is passionate about improving healthcare systems, advocating for mental health, and addressing health disparities, with the goal of contributing to equitable and efficient healthcare programs in the future.
Varun Deshpande (PHSC) is a junior majoring in Public Health Science on the pre-medical track. On campus, he is a member of Delta Epsilon Mu, a professional pre-health fraternity, and conduct biology research with the Moore Lab, studying the effects of estrogen on macrophages. He also regularly tutors K-12 students with the Latino Student Fund on the weekends! He hopes to combine public health knowledge with clinical experience to practice preventative, socially-minded medicine in the future.
Michelle Rodriguez Cruz (PHSC) is a senior Public Health Science student at the School of Public Health, minoring in Humanities, Health, and Medicine. An esteemed University Honors student and certified Community Health Worker, she provides evidence-based, culturally competent health education and resources in both English and Spanish to underserved communities throughout Maryland. Her distinguished public health experience includes internships at the National Institutes of Health and the National Hispanic Medical Association, where she has developed expertise in health policy analysis, advocacy, and programmatic development. Michelle is passionate about the intersection of health policies and epidemiology, with a focus on their global implications and support for underserved Latine populations. She aspires to pursue a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Epidemiology to drive efforts in reducing health disparities and leading transformative public health initiatives on a global scale.
Olivia Fahlbush (KNES) is a senior majoring in Kinesiology. Additionally, she aims to become a physician's assistant, and so has taken many advanced science courses and labs, and have a background in Spanish as well. I am passionate about physical activity and how it can be used as a tool to protect the health of at-risk groups, such as youth and racial minorities. I have experience working with Girls on the Run DC, UMD's Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience Lab, and Shady Grove Medical Center. I look forward to improving communication between the School of Public Health and all of its wonderful students, as well as building our community.