Master of Public Health

Linnea Carlson, PhD, MPH, is the current Co-Director of the UNC Asheville-UNC Gillings MPH Program. She is trained as a medical anthropologist and specializes in the intersections of culture, health, and structural inequalities. Dr. Carlson received her PhD in Sociomedical Sciences from Columbia University, and an MPH in International Community Health from New York University. Prior to joining UNC Asheville as a faculty member in 2022, she taught undergraduate courses in Massachusetts. Her research over the last 25 years has focused primarily on mental health, HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, Type II diabetes, and childhood asthma, both in the U.S. and internationally.

Katie began working at UNC Asheville in 2014 in the Health Sciences Department (formerly the Health and Wellness Department). Since 2023, she has shared her time with the UNC Asheville – UNC Gillings MPH Program providing fiscal tracking and operations support. Her previous experience includes providing customer service and administrative support for natural products companies. She has also worked at and volunteered for the National Park Service, helped to maintain a small Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm and market, and served as an art teacher in after-school programs. She is enthusiastic about community-based food systems and food access and has been participating with the Bountiful Cities board since 2023 in addition to co-leading the steering committee for the Woodfin Community Garden.

Katie earned a BFA degree from the University of South Florida in Tampa where she studied photography, printmaking, and ceramics; and a MFA degree from the University of Washington in Seattle. She has completed the Fundamentals of Herbalism course at the Asheville School of Holistic Herbalism and the Regenerative Backyard Blueprint permaculture design course with Shades of Green Permaculture. She is currently working on earning a Certificate in Horticulture Science from NC State University.

You can learn more about Katie on her UNCA profile page

Dr. Batada facilitates courses on community health, health equity and justice, health communication, and related topics. Her research activities include working with community partners and students to better understand the impact of their health and education programs and conducting research to support policy advocacy pertaining to a range of social drivers of health. She also is the 2021-2024 faculty fellow with the Key Center for Community Engaged Learning at UNCA. Prior to coming to Asheville, Dr. Batada was the director of education, research, and outreach with Sesame Workshop India in New Delhi, and before that she worked as an advocate for national school nutrition standards and limits on marketing junk food to children with the Center for Science in the Public Interest . Dr. Batada's DrPH is in Population and Family Health Sciences with a certificate in Health Communication from Johns Hopkins University and her MPH is in Maternal and Child Health with a certificate in International Health from UNC Chapel Hill. You can learn more about Dr. Batada on her UNCA profile page.

As Co-Director of the UNC Asheville – UNC Gillings MPH Program, Sarah teaches leadership and place-based health theory and implementation and develops practicum and culminating experience opportunities for Asheville MPH students. For over 25, Sarah has worked with broad-based Healthy Carolinians partnerships, health departments, federally qualified health centers, and medical practices to promote community health and develop the rural health workforce in Western North Carolina (WNC) and West Virginia. As a NC DHHS consultant with the Division of Public Health, she helped WNC health departments and Healthy Carolinians partnerships assess and address community health priorities. She also developed school-based health centers, interprofessional initiatives to improve geriatric care, and community campaigns to promote heart disease management and long acting reversible contraception. Her research and practice interests lie in promoting oral health, interprofessional education, and helping clinicians engage communities to promote evidence-based care. She graduated from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health with an MPH in health behavior/ health education and Harvard University with a BA in social anthropology and women’s studies.

My name is Adriana Alvarez, and I am originally from Mexico City, but I have lived almost my entire life in the Asheville area. I graduated from Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA, with my bachelor’s degree in public health and a minor in chemistry. I am interested in helping increase healthcare access for immigrant and other underserved populations as a future practitioner who incorporates public health concepts into my work. I fell in love with public health after taking an intro to public health course in college, and from that moment on, I knew I wanted to do both public health and medical work. Currently, I am working with the Carolina Community Tracing Collaborative to provide resources and assistance for COVID-19 case patients in North Carolina. I love spending my free time hiking, camping, paddling, rock climbing, and running—basically, if it involves being outside, sign me up! I look forward to furthering my public health career through the knowledge I gain at UNCA/UNC Gillings.

I am from Asheville, NC, and graduated from the School of Inquiry and Life Sciences at Asheville (SILSA) in 2013. I spent a gap year as an exchange student in northern Italy where I lived with several host families and attended a local high school. I graduated from NC State in 2017 with a Bachelor of Science in Zoology and a minor in Entomology. I currently work as a Laboratory Technologist in a medical laboratory. I am excited to further my education in this program. In my free time, I love to read and particularly enjoy audiobooks. I also enjoy crochet and making new projects.

My name is Ryan and I am very excited to be in the Place-Based MPH Cohort at MAHEC. I am a lifelong resident of North Carolina; I was born in Rowan County, grew up in Greensboro, got my undergrad in Wilmington, and proudly call Asheville home. At UNCW, I majored in statistics and have worked professionally as a medical research analyst since 2016. It was this work that got me interested in public health. I am eager to learn about promoting equitable positive health outcomes for our community.

Hi, my name is Megan Burnette! I moved to the Asheville area full-time after completing my undergraduate degree at UNC Chapel Hill. My educational background is in public policy, psychology, and medical anthropology. For the past few years, I have worked in local government. This field has granted me a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities of local public health. I look forward to learning how to effectively implement policies and programs that address urgent health issues and improve community well-being. In my free time, I enjoy getting outdoors, whether that is hiking, kayaking, traveling, or running with my dog. I also love to cook, go to concerts, and work on DIY projects. It feels like a dream to be living and studying in Western North Carolina as a part of the 2024 UNC Asheville-UNC Gillings Master of Public Health cohort.

Hi, my name is Amber Chapman! I am super excited about the opportunity to be a part of this cohort. I am a Western North Carolina Native with a passion and focus on healthy aging. I have over five years of experience working in local government, non-profits, and higher education. My entire career and undergraduate studies have been focused on increasing access to quality care for older adults, advocacy, and healthy aging. I look forward to learning from my peers, instructors, and community during the course of our program. I am excited to take this next step in my education and career.

Hi all, my name is Albert Chow, and I was born and raised in Statesville, NC. My undergraduate career was at UNC Asheville. There, I graduated with a bachelor’s in biology and a minor in neuroscience, but I also explored and often co-led student leadership positions in student government and with pre-health professionals. In years past, I was a Student Health Ambassador and a Pre-Healthcare Professions intern in partnership with UNCA and MAHEC.

I am interested in co-developing community capacity and sustainability by identifying, highlighting, and celebrating aspects of community resilience that may not be first thought of as assets. What brought me to public health is the very same thing that has brought me back to it: public health’s interconnectivity and integrated nature in our lives and utilizing it as part of systems approaches to contemporary and historic concerns.

While I learn and grow with my UNCA-UNC Gillings Place-Based cohort, I am proud to tutor 5th through 12th-grade students as faculty at Davidson Day School across an array of subjects. In my free time, I love to cook, venture on scenic and historically informed road trips, and tend to a family of ducks.

Hi, I’m Kennedy Coventry and I’m thrilled to be a part of the Class of 2026 Place-Based MPH Program! I earned my Bachelors in Integrative Physiology and Anthropology from the University of Colorado Boulder in 2023 and after a year off, am excited to be back in the classroom. While in undergrad, I studied leadership through a community-based social and environmental justice program which has spurred a lot of my work in the non-profit sector. I’m passionate about the intersection of community-based work and public health systems and can’t wait to see where this program takes me. In my free time, I have been enjoying exploring a new mountain range and forming a new community of my own.

Even as I have traveled and moved in youthful wanderlust, the luscious Blue Ridge vista viewed from the top of a climbable apple tree has stayed with me. I used to visit my grandparents' Flat Rock family farm every summer growing up. While working on my BS in Food, Nutrition, and Health in Canada, I serendipitously uncovered a personal love of farming. Ever since, I’ve been preparing to manage the family farm in a way that would make my great-grandfather, the founder, proud. Studying Public Health is a wonderful way to explore the myriad ways human health and agriculture are connected. Post-graduation, I plan to use public health-informed strategies and programs on a socially sustainable farm business that aims to improve food sovereignty and health equity in WNC.

I’m very excited to be a first-year student in this program. The place-based approach is the piece that was missing from all the other MPH programs that I looked at, and I so appreciate being taught the skills that will help me eventually give back to southern Appalachia in a meaningful way. I have been a coach and personal trainer for the past few years and enjoy working with people who have never seen the inside of a gym, helping them learn and know the incredible things they’re capable of. My main interests are nutrition and nutrition education as preventative measures for chronic diseases, as well as equity and fairness in food insecurity programs.

Meade is an impact-driven public health professional with five years of experience working in community-based research in rural and underserved communities. As a member of university-based research teams, her roles have focused on qualitative research, program coordination and evaluation, stakeholder engagement, and documentary media for research communication. While her public health work has taken her far afield both internationally and domestically, she is thrilled to be coming home to WNC to pursue her MPH. When not at work or school, she enjoys creating wearable and decorative art in various mediums, and pursuing many forms of outdoor recreation, especially mountain biking. She holds a BA from Duke University in Political Science, Global Health, and Documentary Studies.

My name is Chasity Leake. I was born and raised in Asheville but attended high school in a small town in South Carolina. I began my career in healthcare at 17 when I obttained my certification as a nurse's aide. I attended Asheville Buncombe Technical College, receiving my associate degree in nursing in 2019. I have since worked as a PCU telemetry nurse on the cardiac floor of Mission Hospital. After training for two years in my specialty, I pursued travel nursing to gain more diverse experience. I transferred to the University of North Carolina at Asheville during that time to pursue an interdisciplinary studies degree focused on psychology, sociology, and health and wellness.

I discovered my love and propensity for research, health equity, and health disparity at UNCA. At UNCA, I was awarded the Community Engaged Scholar distinction and Research Scholar designation for working with many area nonprofits, including Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM), Western North Carolina Health Network (WNCHN), Manna Food Bank, and the Racial Justice Coalition (RJC). I am currently pursuing my master's degree in public health, and I cannot wait to see where this road leads me!

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Hi, I'm Kat, a class of '26 place-based MPH cohort member. Originally from Rhode Island, I grew up in inland Connecticut and hold a BFA in textile design from FIT in Manhattan. Despite my arts background, I've always been drawn to community work. In 2019, I moved to Asheville, joining family members who have long called this mountain town home.

I spent the past five years at Planned Parenthood, progressing from MA to clinic manager. My experiences in sexual and reproductive health, particularly with local WNC community partners, inspired me to pursue this MPH. I'm eager to expand my skills and work towards reducing sexual health stigma and increasing access to family planning care in rural communities. In my free time, I love reading, and my husband and I enjoy local baseball games (go Tourists!) and canoe camping trips.

I have been living in Asheville, Buncombe County, for the past three years after moving from Lexington, KY, where I graduated with a double major in 2014. My academic focus was on literature and film, specifically exploring the Vietnam War and America’s evolving relationship with nature. This research was rooted in my earlier studies of early-colonial American literature and global film history. During my undergraduate years, I developed a passion for the culinary industry, transitioning from working as a waitress to becoming a chef. I am currently a Sous Chef and plan to apply the leadership skills I’ve gained in the kitchen to my studies and future career as a Public Health professional. I aim to use this program to specialize in GIS mapping of food systems, with a focus on improving access for lower-income families and schools.

Niki, a resident of Burnsville, NC, works as an Extension Agent in the field of Family and Consumer Sciences. She completed two bachelor's degrees at North Carolina A&T State University in 2009, one in Landscape Architecture and the other in Environmental Horticulture. Due to the fall of the construction industry in 2008, Niki pursued a career in early childhood education throughout the Triad for the next 10 years. However, in 2017, she moved back home to Yancey County with her husband and newborn baby and found a new career working with Cooperative Extension. After working in Extension for five years, Niki decided to pursue further education in place-based public health to give back to the community she was raised in and where she will continue to raise her own girls.

My name is Jai'Essence and I'm a North Carolina native. I grew up in Asheville and am deeply connected to my community. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Health Science and pursued a Master's in Athletic Training. However, along the way, I discovered that my true passion lies in Public Health as it better aligns with my desire to make a broader impact on community well-being.

I chose this program because of its emphasis on place-based health, which is essential for understanding and addressing the unique challenges different communities face. My background in community engagement has shaped my commitment to creating meaningful change and I am excited to enhance this work with the knowledge and skills I gain here.

I work with ABIPA (Asheville Buncombe Institute of Parity Achievement). This organization focuses on advancing equity in health, education, and economic opportunities for underserved communities—particularly the African American population. ABIPA's mission to improve health outcomes, provide education, and advocate for systemic change aligns perfectly with my professional goals.

My name is Jimmy Mullen and I am from Raleigh, NC. I am very excited to be joining the Fall 2024 Cohort!

Early on, I believed that the best path for me was one that focused on policy work. For most of my career so far, I have engaged with jobs and activities that aligned with the philosophy that policy is a straightforward endeavor. However, after working with the Durham Arts Council in Durham, NC, my perspective shifted entirely. I realized that rather than addressing community issues in a purely factual way, it is equally important to listen to the people within the community itself. This is why I believe that a place-based approach to public health is crucial.

As I move through this program, I hope to gain insight from community members, as well as learn from my peers and instructors about the complexities of public health in different settings. I believe that understanding local needs and integrating community voices is essential to developing effective public health strategies.

Congratulations everyone! My name is Maya Newlin and I was raised in Winston-Salem, NC. As an alumna of UNC Asheville I will be returning to a familiar area. In my undergraduate career I double majored in Sociology and Political Science with a minor in Africana Studies.

Academically, my interests lie in research, community development, women’s health, and health equity. I currently live in Charlotte, NC and work for the NC Center for Health and Wellness as a Project Manager supporting collaborative work with MAHEC. In my personal time I enjoy staying active. All things related to music are my favorite forms of self-expression, whether that is singing, dancing, going to concerts or actually playing an instrument. I also enjoy caring for certain furry friends. Over the years I have rescued two cats and plan on taking on my third once I relocate in the Fall. I’m incredibly excited to venture on this new journey and look forward to meeting the cohort.

Prior to pursuing an MPH, I worked in sustainable agriculture, health data, and most recently in data for statewide homelessness services. I'm interested in the potential for public health to understand and address the root causes of health issues and inequities. When I'm not working or studying, I enjoy fiber arts, amateur car repair, and cooperative economics.

Andrew is pursuing an MPH with UNC’s Gillings School. Prior to this pursuit, he’s worked in the fields of agriculture, education, mental healthcare, and has been a longtime DJ and producer for community radio. In his free time, he is an amateur linguist, occasional musician and enjoys foraging, gardening, and cooking up the resulting combination for those around!

Hi everyone, I'm Emily and I am a part of the 2023 Cohort for the MPH program. I graduated from my undergrad with a BS in Psychology in 2020, originally wanting to go into forensic psychology. After a couple of years of reflection, I realized that many of the issues I wanted to help with could be solved by looking at the systemic structures and policies at play. I chose to enroll in the MPH program because I know it will further my career in that direction. I'm now interested in maternal/reproductive health and justice as well as mental health, and how the intersectionality of those two affects people across the country.

Hi, I'm Alexa. I am originally from Honduras but I came to the United States when I was four years old. I have been living in Olin, NC, for the past 18 years. I chose this program because I wanted to learn more about public health issues. I wanted to help communities that are underserved and underrepresented. What I like best about this program is that we can go to different communities and learn a little bit more about them. Also, being in the same cohort until we graduate.

My name is Christos Tsakalos and I am very excited to be starting the Place-Based Master’s in Public Health at MAHEC. I have lived in Asheville, NC, my whole life and I am an avid hiker, swimmer, and mountain biker. Nonetheless, I lived the first four years of my life in Astros, Greece, so I always enjoy a salty getaway at the beach! I received my undergraduate at UNCA in Health Sciences and have worked alongside some phenomenal individuals in conducting health research. My long-term goal is to pursue Neurology, as I have always had an interest in the brain and nervous systems alike. By receiving this MPH, I hope I can utilize the critical information that I learn to bridge the gap between Public Health and Medicine and to assist rural communities.

Hi, I grew up in Morganton, NC and graduated from UNC Asheville in 2012 with a degree in Health & Wellness Promotion and Spanish. I've been working at Blue Ridge Health Services in Hendersonville during the last seven years. My current role includes helping Spanish speaking patients and the farm working population with accessing medical care as well as with COVID related events. My career interests include continuing to support vulnerable populations, such as farmworkers, and working with youth, especially minorities, who are interested in pursuing a professional career in the healthcare field. In my free time I enjoy hiking, dancing, and traveling.

Taylor recently graduated from Guilford College in 2022 and then moved up to Asheville. She is passionate about the foster care system and ensuring that children's voices are heard. Currently, Taylor is working for a nonprofit that partners with Buncombe County as a visitation coach. The position allows her to work in the community that she is trying to advocate for.

Hello! My name is Juhi and for the last 6 years I’ve called south Asheville my home. I was born and raised in India and moved to the States when I was in middle school. Since moving to the States, I have lived in 3 different states, New Jersey, South Carolina and North Carolina. I received my Associate’s degree in biology from AB tech and bachelor’s degree in biology from Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, NC. I currently work at MAHEC dental health center at Biltmore and have a keen interest in the field of dentistry. In my free time I like living every introvert’s dream life by binge watching tv shows, going to the movies, and listening to Bollywood music. I am super excited to start my Master’s degree in public health at MAHEC through UNC Asheville and UNC Gillings school of Public Health.

Courtney has lived south of Asheville for over 18 years in Flat Rock. After graduating from East Henderson High School in 2014, she attended A-B Technical Community College for 3 years and finished her last 3 years of undergraduate studies at UNC Asheville, where she completed a degree in health and wellness promotion with a double minor in Spanish and political science. Courtney graduated cum laude with several distinctions, including as a University Research Scholar, a Community Engaged Scholar, and Leadership by the Health and Wellness Promotion department at UNC Asheville.

In addition to working as a certified nursing assistant as a home health aide in the Hendersonville area, Courtney also worked as a Healthy Campus intern at UNC Asheville where she tackled issues of food injustice within her campus community. Currently, Courtney works as a health advocate at Pisgah Legal Services where she bridges the gap between people with lower incomes and access to healthcare coverage and services. Courtney chose the UNC Asheville-UNC Gillings MPH Program in part because her advisor at UNC Asheville is one of the program's founders and Courtney saw its potential from the very beginning. She appreciates the small class size, the accomplishments of the program faculty and their institutions, and the ability to live and study in the mountains while attending an affordable masters program.

After graduation, Courtney hopes to teach anatomy and physiology at a community college, imparting her passion for the subject while gaining valuable teaching experience. Ultimately, she hopes to earn her PhD in neurology and research mental and emotional health on her way to becoming a college professor. Courtney is excited about the way this MPH program will help her connect research concepts from neurology with public health issues, while also advocating for policies that promote mental and emotional well-being based on neurological and public health findings.

My name is Ali Donohue and I am thrilled to be starting this program as the next step in my career. I feel that occupational therapists have a unique role and perspective to offer the field of public health and I am looking forward to exploring that role! I have worked as an occupational therapist for nearly 15 years, 12 of them here in Asheville. I am currently working at Mission Hospital in the adult ICUs which is my favorite setting and the one that keeps me on my toes. I have also worked across the region in varied settings including home health, skilled nursing facilities and schools.

I am originally from Memphis, TN and graduated from James Madison University in Virginia. Following a stint in Baltimore where I worked with the pediatric spinal cord injury population, I settled in Asheville where I met my husband. We live in Asheville and have two children Rowan (5) and Molly (3) who keep us in constant motion plus a menagerie of pets to round us out. When not working, we enjoy being outside, especially camping with friends or enjoying our favorite local eats. I look forward to getting to know all of you over these next two years.

Michelle Gillig is a Georgia native who graduated from Emory University’s nursing school in 2016. Michelle’s first public health nursing job led her to Athens, Georgia to work at the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) in the Children’s Medical Services (CMS) program which serves children from birth to 21 with chronic medical needs. Michelle relocated to Alamance County, NC in 2019 to work at the county’s health department in the communicable disease and pregnancy care management programs. Michelle currently works part-time at Mission Hospital as an infection preventionist. In her spare time, Michelle enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring North Carolina parks, and dining at local restaurants and coffee shops. She is excited to continue her career in public health!

Margarita graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in psychology in 2002. Her early career was spent working in the summer camp industry, childcare, and community health programming. She served as volunteer coordinator for a county political campaign, and then worked for five years at an independent family practice in program and project management. She now serves as outreach manager for the Western Carolina Medical Society where she supports clinics and other organizations that provide assistance with social determinants of health.

Margarita decided to pursue her MPH in Asheville after a 17-year break from school because of the quality of the MPH program and the convenience of being able to attend a program in Asheville. She is already applying public health skills she is learning in her daily work life including leadership development, quality improvement, using a systems-level approach, and involving the community in decision making.

Alex Green is the dental director at Mountain Community Health Partnership, a federally qualified health center in Yancey and Mitchell counties, where he helped establish and now manages MCHP's first safety-net dental clinic in Bakersville, NC. Alex is a native of Mitchell County and returned home to establish his dental practice after graduating from the East Carolina University School of Dental Medicine in May 2019.

Growing up, Alex realized that oral healthcare was something far too few people could access. His interest in dentistry provided him with an opportunity to change that narrative. Alex applied to the MPH Program in Asheville to hone his skills in community health leadership in a place-based setting in order to best serve rural and underserved Western North Carolinians.

Kelly is a North Carolina native, currently living in rural Yadkin County where she grew up. She attended Appalachian State and received her degree in Child Development. Shortly after she sat for the Child Life Certification Exam and since then has been working as a child life specialist, providing developmental and psychosocial support to children in the healthcare environment. Kelly has worked in this role at three different hospitals throughout North Carolina; Brenner Children’s Hospital, Mission Children’s Hospital and WakeMed, where she has been able to practice clinically and also gain formal leadership experience as a supervisor.

Living in different locations throughout the state afforded Kelly the opportunity to see trends in how someone’s zip code can impact their health. Alongside this insight, Kelly became interested in how the field of Child Life is delivering interventions in the community setting (an area less commonly served). Hoping to help further this movement into the community setting, Kelly felt it would be beneficial to further her skillset and scope of practice. She found that Public Health and Child Life could work synergistically to meet this goal in a notable and sustainable way. Kelly previously completed a handful of classes with UNC Gillings Asheville staff and students through the Friday Center, which solidified her choice to complete her MPH with the program.

I grew up skipping rocks and running barefoot in rural western North Carolina. I am grateful to still live in the area and call Zirconia, NC my home. I earned a bachelor’s in public health and sustainability science from Furman University in Greenville, SC and there, met my future husband, Patrick. I have a golden retriever named Parton who is named after The Queen of Country, Dolly Parton. I currently work at Pardee in the human resources department and am excited to be continuing my education in the mountains. Outside of work I like to play tennis, make bread, and spend time with friends and family.

Hello all! My name is Allyson Medlin and I am excited to be attending the Gillings School of Global Public Health this upcoming fall in the Place-Based Health MPH cohort in Asheville. I am currently completing my final year as an undergraduate student at Appalachian State University majoring in public health with a minor in psychology. I want to continue working and living in Western NC and am very passionate about community health, especially in rural areas, so the Place-Based health concentration seems appropriate and engaging for what I want to do in the future. In terms of research, I am interested in learning more about the social capital and community ties of rural Appalachia and Western NC and how it impacts health behaviors of people in these areas.

My professional life so far in the scope of public health has been based through supporting, volunteering, and now interning for a nonprofit organization here in Boone called the High Country Breast Cancer Foundation - since 2018 I have worked as a board member to help educate and prevent breast cancer in our local community, as well as support survivors, patients, and their families. As for personal interests and hobbies, I enjoy hiking, gardening, knitting, and reading - all things I hope to continue when I move to Asheville this summer. I look forward to beginning the program and what I want to do in the future, which is to focus my work and research on the health behaviors of teenagers and children in Western North Carolina.

Kenett is the vulnerable populations manager at Blue Ridge Health, a federally qualified health center in Hendersonville, NC. Kenett received his bachelor's degree in health and wellness from UNC Asheville and his MPH from the program in Asheville. Kenett’s history and desire to work with underserved populations is what led him to choose UNC’s Asheville-based MPH program. With its focus on place-based learning, evidence-based approaches, community planning, management, and leadership, our MPH program helped Kenett hone his community development skills.

Kenett is using his public health training to help improve health disparities in WNC by addressing barriers to health such as language, transportation, food insecurity, social exclusion, education, access to healthcare, and more.

Alexandra Mitchell grew up in Durham, NC but relocated to attend UNC Asheville where she completed a degree in health and wellness promotion. She worked for four years with the child nutrition program at the YWCA of Asheville and as a dietary interventionist working with older adults in Haywood County through the WE CAN Arthritis study. These experiences reinforced her love of healthy eating and nutrition and piqued her interest in public health.

She chose the Asheville MPH program because of its location and focus on Asheville and the Western North Carolina region, as well as the flexibility the program provided to enable her to keep working full time while taking classes. In addition to working in Haywood County, Alexandra works part time as a research assistant with the North Carolina Center for Health and Wellness, where she uses public health evaluation and data analysis skills every day.

My name is Ella Morin, and I am 22 with a double major in Biology in Spanish. I started out as a Spanish major with a pre-medical track at Middle Tennessee State University. After taking my first biology class, I knew I wanted to add a major in the field and I recently completed my Honors thesis in cellular and molecular biology, working with live-cell microscopy. However, something was missing beyond the mere mechanics of mitophagy pathways I studied and the symptoms I saw while serving as a Spanish translator at local clinics, an awareness of the many factors surrounding the biology that manifested in the way that it did.

My time living as a missionary in Honduras working with community development and outreach taught me to constantly ask bigger questions about the issues I saw in the classroom such as dysfunction in Human Pathophysiology of extinction in Ecology. Living abroad taught me to approach everything with curiosity “Why do these things happen, and what is influencing the diseases and chronic issues that we as humans face, as well as the burdens on the environment as a whole? Without the blend of culture and the mechanics of biology, we cannot provide for communities in need of preventative health education or immediate treatment.” My liberal arts degree has expanded my perspective to see the bigger picture beyond the microscope, the world that shapes us and influences our experiences and outcomes. This curiosity led me to the study of public health.

With a heritage of Lumbee and Cherokee in my family I look forward to learning more about my great-grandparents culture in Western North Carolina. I am looking forward to understanding more about the psycho-social and cultural aspects in regards to access to healthcare, human behavior, and health-seeking behaviors through UNC’s MPH program. In my free time I enjoy climbing, scuba diving and playing piano. I enjoy working as a health coach and personal trainer, and I am a vegan. I am excited to meet the rest of the cohort and I look forward to training with all of you.

While growing up in rural community, Kerstan noticed that disparities in healthcare access had a negative impact on the lives of those she loved. Overtime, this recognition of disparities grew into a desire to challenge the existing conditions of healthcare in under-resourced communities. She chose the Asheville-based MPH because of its emphasis on people and their communities as sources of knowledge and change. In her spare time, she loves reading fantasy novels and trying new restaurants.

My name is Isla, and I am a lover of the mountains and beaches and a Western NC native. After completing my undergraduate studies at UNC Chapel Hill, I moved back to the Asheville area, where I have been a community health worker for the past 4 years. I was thrilled to find the Asheville SOPH program because it allowed me to continue living and working in the home that I love, while receiving a quality education from a school I will always be loyal to.

In my spare I love to read, swim in rivers and lakes, experiment with new cooking recipes, and spend quality time with my fun-loving partner. I’m also a huge fan of traveling—this summer my partner and I hiked the Camino de Santiago in Spain which was a 500-mile backpacking trip! I love all the nature and community that Asheville offers, and I’m excited to grow into the city even more as I complete my master’s degree!

My name is Mary Newman (she/her). I’ve been working as a RN for about 10 years, before that I was a Certified Massage Therapist. I attended North Park University in Chicago for my Bachelors of Science in Nursing. Then worked at Northwestern University Hospital in Chicago in their neurosciences department. There I received my certification in neurological nursing. My fields were step-down care for neurosurgery, epilepsy research and medical-surgical neurology and stroke unit. My most recent career path has been as a Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse. I worked for a large nonprofit in Florida, in both case management and acute hospice care at different hospitals in the Jacksonville area. I also volunteered at a free health clinic for the uninsured. I’m interested in health care as a human right, especially for oppressed populations. One of the reasons I chose this program is to learn more about the evolving health care options for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians living in NC. I’m currently living in Mars Hill, NC about 25 miles north of Asheville, with my husband and our rescued dog and cat. I enjoy cooking, especially food from our own farm, and road trips in our camper van. I hike for fun and my current goal is backpack hiking the Appalachian Trail through both TN and NC. I look forward to interacting with my upcoming cohort of students in the program.

My name is Michael, and I am very excited to be a member of the class of '24 Place-Based MPH cohort. A resident of Black Mountain, NC with my wife Molly and pug (Rigby) as of April 2022, I spent my recent years working in EMS and as a surgical specialist in organ and tissue transplant in Baltimore, Maryland. I currently provide ABA therapy to individuals on the Autism spectrum. I have always felt a strong pull toward the preventative side of medicine and, through the School of Public Health, hope to achieve a greater baseline of physical and mental health for members of all demographics within my community. When I'm not working or schooling, you'll find me playing guitar, wood working, on a run with my wife, or acting as a big pillow for my dog.

My name is Khadiya and I am from Charlotte, North Carolina. I graduated from UNC Asheville in May 2020 with a B.S in Health and wellness promotion. My primary research interest is African American health and the disparities which affect this population. During my time at UNCA, I was a research assistant for several public health projects in the local Asheville area. I've worked with ABIPA and their PRAISE program which is a church-based health intervention that aimed to improve the health of African Americans. I also work with the Heart of Health program, which seeks to learn more about health and health disparities experienced by African Americans living in rural Western Carolina. I'm excited to join the Fall 2021 cohort and to continue to pursue my passion for health justice.

Hi there! My name is Maggie Rothenberg and I'm currently a graduating senior at UNCA. Over the four years I've lived in Asheville thus far I've really enjoyed the environment of health professionals and volunteer programs I've had access to! I've worked with the UNCA faculty in partnership with Manna Food Bank and Bounty and Soul, two groups working to end hunger in Western North Carolina. UNCA and the Asheville environment have provided me with ample resources and connections for building a career in the health profession. Not to mention the mountains are beautiful! The weather is lovely and many of the people I've met here seem to take on a growth mindset; always open to new innovations, ideas, lifestyle practices, etc.

I'm currently working on research examining the effects of spirituality, locus of control, and perception of stress in college students! This is a great environment for conducting research as well, the resources and connections I've made over the years through school and extracurricular activities have prepared me well for starting a career. I am really excited to begin this grad program and extend the resources and connections I've been making here in Asheville!

Caralee is interested in the intersection of health, spirituality, and social justice. Before starting UNC's Place-Based MPH program, Caralee worked for several food justice and environmental non-profits and received a master's degree in Theological Studies. Caralee currently works for the CDC Foundation where she focuses on equitable health solutions for various populations throughout North Carolina. In addition to work and school, Caralee loves cooking with friends and hiking with her pup.

Hi! My name is Kerri and I'm a 34 year-old RN living in Asheville. I grew up in the Seattle area, spent about a year in Latin America, and then went to college and lived in Southern California for 12 years. I moved to Asheville 2.5 years ago in search of seasons, trees, green space, a city-nature blend, and a slightly slower pace of life, and I found it! I love that I can spend the morning at a downtown Asheville coffee shop and the rest of the day exploring the mountains. I still can't believe how beautiful it is here! I love traveling the world and learning from people and cultures, both here and abroad.

As an RN, I've been involved in many aspects of healthcare, and I've always been especially drawn to community/public health and empowering others. I've worked in the hospital, as a "Faith Community Nurse" in inner-city Los Angeles, as an adjunct faculty member of the nursing department at my alma mater, as a manager at a clinic providing early-pregnancy care and STD testing/treatment, and as a RN Case Manager in the development of a program for survivors of sexual assault, interpersonal violence, human trafficking, and other forms of trauma in WNC. I am now growing in a new role as an RN & Integrative Health Coach at a Family Practice where I provide community COVID testing as well as equip patients to make sustainable behavioral health changes. I am especially drawn to working with marginalized populations and in promoting health equity. I can't wait to learn and grow (with all of you!) in the AVL MPH program to deepen my awareness, understanding, and effectiveness in promoting holistic health to help communities thrive!

My name is Irene Ulrich (she/her), and I am so excited to be joining the Fall 2021 cohort. I’m a Tar Heel lifer, having received my undergraduate and PharmD degrees from UNC. I did my pharmacy residency in Asheville with Mission Hospital and MAHEC Family Health in 2012, and I have worked as a clinical pharmacist with MAHEC since 2014. In this role, I help patients manage chronic diseases, especially those that are often heavily managed by medications, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular conditions. In the past few years, I have become more active in transgender health and wellness, which has been central in my decision to pursue the MPH degree. I am passionate about health equity and look forward to applying the skills learned in the MPH program to my clinical work and advocacy interests.

I have been lucky to call Western North Carolina home for the last 9 years. I met my now-husband, Bruce, while we were both training at MAHEC. We have a perfect, 10-month old baby girl, Ila, in addition to 2 dogs (Gryffindor and Bowie), 2 donkeys (Spot and Charlie) and 2 goats (Peppy and Patches) who roam our 6 mountainous acres in Weaverville, NC. I love to travel and look forward to exploring the world with my daughter as she grows. I am also an avid (slow) long-distance runner, and enjoy exploring Asheville on foot!

I’m a Midwesterner at heart but have lived in the Southeast for nearly 30 years, about half of those years spent living in Asheville. I earned my doctorate in Microbiology and Immunology in 1992 then taught in the Department of Biology at Furman University for 5 years and at Western Carolina University for 10 years. After having kids of my own and observing first hand some of the issues with science education in our schools, I made the leap to work within the system and taught middle school and high school science for nearly 15 years, working with students of all ages and helping to develop new science curricula. The last two years I had the amazing opportunity to teach at an International School in Zurich, Switzerland. Sadly, the pandemic cut my time working in Europe a bit short, but it was also during this time that I realized I needed to make a career move. The pandemic demonstrated to me the important role public health plays in our society. I started to imagine myself in this field, and it gave me the courage to apply to graduate school and consider a dramatic career shift at age 55.

On a more personal note, my two “children,” aged 26 and 23, are grown and flown, giving me the freedom to go back to school to pursue another degree. Very much a nature-lover, I spend a lot of my free time hiking the many miles of trails around the Asheville area and can give lots of great advice on local hikes. I love to travel and have a big hiking holiday planned in Europe this summer (pandemic permitting). I am passionate about the environment and conservation, and I have taken numerous groups of students down to Costa Rica to do conservation projects in the rainforest and on the coast (mostly leatherback sea turtle rescue projects). I love learning new things and can’t wait to get started on this next exciting chapter in my life!