Students
Rebecca Annorbah
Hometown: Accra, Ghana
Program of study: Interdisciplinary Health PhD
Estimated graduation date: Spring 2025
Primary interest in joining your program: My program has been instrumental in honing my research skills including data collection methods, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and data presentation. It has provided opportunities to engage in health equity projects across diverse populations, including women and children, and individuals incarcerated.
Wacey Begay
Hometown: Gallup, NM
Program of study: Master of Public Health – Health Promotion
Estimated graduation date: Spring 2025
Primary interest in joining your program: I want to gain the knowledge and experience the program has to offer so later in my career, I can have the tools to help my community.
Brooke Betsui
Hometown: Tonalea, AZ
Program of Study: Masters of Public Health with an emphasis in the Health Promotion Indigenous Health Track
Estimated graduation date: Spring 2025
Primary interest in joining the program: I was very interested in the Indigenous Health track that the NAU MPH program offered. I have a passion for working directly with Indigenous communities and this program offers this to amazing opportunity.
Kathryn Bezue
Hometown: Gulfport, MS
Program of Study: Master of Public Health – Indigenous Health
Primary interest in joining your program: My ultimate career goal is to own and operate a mobile health clinic that delivers accessible and affordable care to Native American Reservations. Pursuing Public Health with a focus on Indigenous Health will enable me to meaningfully contribute to the well-being of Indigenous communities.
Eli Bigthumb
Hometown: Crownpoint, NM
Program of study: Master of Public Health, Indigenous Health
Estimated graduation date: Spring 2024
Primary interest in joining your program: The university’s MPH Program is a very appealing one since it will further my familiarity to empower people by gaining control over the social, political, and personal conditions that affect their health. My individual experiences and attributes have led me to believe that I would be well suited to a career in public health and all that it entails. Overall, I feel this MPH program will advance the principle of health promotion, disease prevention, and parity among underserved Indigenous communities.
Kate Compton-Gore
Hometown: Anchorage, AK
Program of study: Interdisciplinary health, PhD
Expected graduation date: Spring 2024
Primary interest in joining your program: The program provides opportunities for research, training, and teaching in a wide variety of health-related fields and allows students to engage in research that is across disciplines and areas of expertise. Specifically, I am interested in policy-based research addressing environmental health and justice issues.
Joshua Falevai
Hometown: Hunter’s Point, AZ
Program of study: Biomedical Science, Chemistry, Psychology
Estimated graduation date: Spring 2025
Primary interest in joining your program: My goal here at NAU is to gain a background in biomedical science and rehabilitative medicine, so that I can practice physical therapy and strength and conditioning on the Navajo Nation. One day, I hope to work in youth development through sports, geriatric physical therapy, and specialize in tactical strength and conditioning.
Lauren Frick
Hometown: Lancaster, OH
Program of study: MA in Applied Sociology
Estimated graduation date: Spring 2024
Primary interest in joining your program: I joined my program because I have spent a lot of my graduate courses studying health disparities and social determinants of health, so I was excited for the opportunity to work with a public health research organization. I also wanted experience doing hands-on, practical work with the communities of Northern Arizona.
Alycia Hardy
Hometown: Tuba City, AZ
Program of study: Biomedical Science
Expected graduation date: Spring 2025
Primary interest in joining your program: I want to help make a positive impact within the community, as well as my hometown. My goal is to keep everyone educated about their health and risks. I hope to become a Physician Assistant.
Corey Hemstreet
Hometown: Tuba City, Arizona
Program of study: Master of Public Health – Health Promotion
Estimated graduation date: Spring 2024
Primary interest in joining your program: The primary reason I was interested in joining the program is because of the various health inequities that have plagued my community for decades. I am in this program to help advance systems change to improve the health and wellness of my community. I also would like to mentor and encourage the next generation of health professionals so they, too, can come back home to contribute back to their respective communities.
Chloe Horowitz
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Program of study: Psychological Sciences M.A.
Estimated graduation date: Spring 2024
Primary interest in joining your program: I am interested in studying the impacts of trauma exposure on development across the lifespan. Specifically, I am interested in the effects of childhood trauma exposure on cognitive function in later life. I also hope to learn more about translational and qualitative research methods in order to understand how to best serve different communities.
Taylor Lewis-Moore
Hometown: Camp Verde, Arizona
Program of study: Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene
Estimated graduation date: Spring 2026
Primary interest in joining your program: I am passionate about advocating the importance of oral hygiene amongst all ages. I have always had great experiences in the dental and orthodontist offices. I want to make that same impact on others and make dentistry a safe place, as it did for me when I was younger. I look forward to a career where I can help others with their dental needs and a job that will support my rodeo hobby.
Javier Lopez
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Program of study: Master of Public Health
Estimated graduation date: Spring 2025
Primary interest in joining your program: NAU’s MPH program will set me up with the knowledge and skills needed to fulfill my aspirations of becoming an epidemiologist. My interests include infectious disease, clinical research, and making an impact on underserved communities. The program will certainly benefit my interests by setting me up to be a determined and well-rounded health professional. I look forward to continuing working with Dr. Ricky Camplain on CHER’s Incarceration Project and gaining valuable experience.
Alexandra Olin
Hometown: Yuma, AZ
Program of study: Master of Public Health – Health Promotion
Estimated graduation date: Spring 2025
Primary interest in joining your program: In pursuing my MPH, I hope to leverage my education and skills to promote sexual and reproductive health equity in underserved communities. I aim to advance comprehensive and inclusive healthcare, address health disparities, and empower individuals to make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
Jeffersson Brasil Pires Dos Santos
Hometown: Estancia, Sergipe, Brazil
Program of study: Interdisciplinary Health PhD- Health Equity
Estimated graduation date: Fall 2025
Primary interest in joining your program: I have background in nursing and I got interested in the IH PhD program because I wanted to acquire research skills and knowledge to conduct culturally-centered, community-based participatory research on integrated behavioral health and primary care for underserved populations. As a NARBHA Institute Scholar, I have conducted integrated care research in collaboration with a community behavioral health center in northern Arizona. For my dissertation, I am focusing on integrated care for LGBTQ+ people in rural settings. I also conduct research in Brazil on the social determinants of health of transgender women in street sex work. Since I started my PhD program, I presented the results from my research in the US and Brazil at various national and international conferences, including the American Public Health Association Conference (APHA).
Melinda Smith
Hometown: Arlee, MT
Program of study Interdisciplinary Health PhD
Estimated graduation date: 2023
Your primary interest in joining your program: This program will help me gain the skills, knowledge, experience, and credentials I need to advance in the field of chronic disease prevention and management community engaged research.
Alexis Talayumptewa
Hometown: Flagstaff, AZ
Program of study: Master of Public Health – Health Promotion
Estimated graduation date: Spring 2025
Your primary interest in joining your program: I have a strong interest in promoting health, research, and improving the overall well-being of my communities. NAU’s MPH program will allow me to explore new solutions, technologies, and interventions to address daily health challenges. My goal is to achieve my Masters in Public Health that can lead to meaningful work that could then direct me to contribute to positive changes in society’s health outcomes. I look forward to advancing in my education, and using the tools I have learned to help my communities, and to make a positive impact within my community.
Rachel Whitman
Hometown: Churchrock, NM
Program of study: Master of Public Health – Indigenous Health Track
Estimated graduation date: Spring 2025
Your primary interest in joining your program: My experience working with the Diné community and learning of its various health inequities have contributed to my passion of improving the health and wellbeing in tribal communities. I have the rewarding opportunity to work alongside Dr. Julie Baldwin, Christine Kirby and the team on efforts in two tribal communities. This experience has been incredibly beneficial by improving my skills and knowledge that will help me in the MPH program and my career as a health professional.