Welcome! I am excited to have you here. My e-Portfolio site provides an overview of the knowledge and skills I have gained over the course of the Old Dominion University MPH program. During the program’s five semesters, I have completed core courses necessary to be a successful Public Health professional, as well as courses specific to my concentration track of Health Behavior and Health Promotion. I am entering the field of Public Health as a mid-career professional looking to break into a new job sector.

After receiving my Bachelor’s of Urban and Environmental Planning from the University of Virginia in 2014, I spent over five years working as a contractor in the Environmental and Sustainability fields. My work centered on regulatory compliance and pollution prevention, with an emphasis on air and water pollution. In addition to my full-time job, I earned a USDA certificate in Urban Agriculture and volunteered with the SNAP fresh match program at the South of the James Farmers Market in Richmond, VA during this time.

Around 2020, I realized I had hit a wall in my environmental consulting career and had a strong desire to transition into work focused on strengthening food systems and improving community health outcomes through nutrition. This desire for a career change, as well as a move to Norfolk due to my husband’s medical training, led me to apply and accept a spot in the ODU MPH program. I have enjoyed my time in the program and appreciate the breadth of training I have received. I am eager to graduate and look forward to taking advantage of the wide applicability of an MPH degree as I apply to professional positions!