Student Ambassadors
Amina Orpe
Class of 2027, Student Ambassador
I am a sophomore pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Public Health with a minor in Healthcare and Society. I have been interested in undertaking a larger outlook on the health network for quite a bit now. I began my career path focusing on graduating undergrad and attending medical school. However, instead of becoming a routine physician, I wanted a broader perspective with a focus on helping underserved communities. I wanted to be able to understand how fundamental factors affect the health and safety of people all over the world. Studying public health allows me to focus on understanding the global health effects that are present in many developing countries, even my own.
I was privileged to have a sustainable childhood with access to proper healthcare and education by moving to the United States at a young age. While I think about how much different my life would be, I think about how I can give back. For the children that weren’t given the opportunity as I was, I want to pursue my passion for aiding others to a healthier lifestyle with endless possibilities. We all deserve to have optimal health and wellness during our lives. I hope to one day be able to positively affect the lives of communities and people who were not given the chance I was.
Aniya Bonds
Class of 2025, Student Ambassador
My name is Aniya Bonds, and I am currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in Public Health with a minor in Social Justice. I switched from being a social work major to studying Public Health because I believe that this degree program provides fundamental knowledge and skills to understand the social, environmental, and behavioral factors that influence public health outcomes.
Through the guidance of faculty and staff within the School of Public Health, my passion for promoting health and improving the quality of life for others has strengthened. I have been inspired by several courses to start my career with community programming and resources, eventually working my way up to policymaking and legislation. As someone who is deeply committed to addressing health disparities and inequalities faced by marginalized communities, I believe it's important to reform policies that address social determinants of health, such as poverty, education, and lack of resources. By doing so, we can help reduce health disparities and improve overall health outcomes.
I chose to study Public Health because it offers a fulfilling career path that allows me to work towards social justice and address systemic issues that impact health outcomes. I encourage others who are interested in addressing these issues to seek further information about Public Health, as education is the first step to prevention. Overall, I am excited to be pursuing a career in Public Health and look forward to making a positive impact globally.
Aeryn Longuevan
Class of 2025, Graduate Student Ambassador
My name is Aeryn Longuevan and I am currently pursuing a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Biostatistics. I have a bachelor's degree in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, and I am excited to be in a field of study where I can use systems thinking and data analysis in a way that directly improves the health and well-being of my community.
In addition to being a student, I am the Vice President of the Public Health Student Association, and a Research Assistant supervised by Dean Joshi.
Saloni Patel
Class of 2025, Graduate Student Ambassador
Saloni Patel is a graduate student at the University of Memphis pursuing a Masters in Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology. She graduated from dental school in 2020 and has 2 years' experience in clinical dentistry from her home country, India. At the School of Public Health, Saloni is a Graduate Assistant where she actively engages in communication, social media and research initiatives. As a student at the University of Memphis, Saloni is a student leader and participates in organizations like the Indian Students Association, Public Health Students Association and the Visitor and International Student Alliance on campus.
She also holds leadership position as the Advancement Committee Chair in Student Assembly of American Public Health which is the nation's largest student led organization. After school she volunteers at organizations like Mid South Mission of Mercy and Memphis Animal Services. Apart from Healthcare, Saloni also has extensive work experience in Branding and Social Media Marketing. Saloni's team won the ImagineU summer entrepreneurship accelerator at the Crews Center for Entrepreneurship in Summer of 2023, after which she developed a newfound interest in inculcating entrepreneurial mindset to advance healthcare. After graduating in Spring 2025, Saloni aims to aims to work in cancer control and prevention.
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Briana McNeil
Coordinator, Recruitment and Admissions
sphadmissions@memphis.edu
(901) 678-2675