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Elected Officers |
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THE 2009-2010 ACADEMIC YEAR
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Gandarvaka Gray, President |
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Gandarvaka (pronounced gun-DAR-vah-kah) is a 2nd year MPH Student in the Maternal and Child Health Program of the Community Health Sciences Division. Raised in Philadelphia, her decision to pursue a career in public health stemmed from a desire to understand why some racial and ethnic minority groups, particularly those in urban areas, disproportionately experience poor health and to eliminate these disparities. For Gandarvaka, epidemiologic research is an opportunity to bridge together her passion for advocating the needs of underrepresented groups and her formal education, a BS in Science and Minor in Statistics from Penn State University. Her primary research interests are social determinants of sexual and reproductive health. She has held two positions in this area at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention where she worked with the Adolescent Reproductive Health Team in the Division of Reproductive Health. Her current research focuses on the impact of neighborhood change processes such as gentrification on birth outcomes. |
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E-mail: ggray2@uic.edu |
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Rayna Brown, Vice President |
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Rayna N. Brown is a native of the South Side of Chicago. She has about eight years of experience in community work with five of those years as a health educator and outreach worker. Rayna has a BS in Biology from Spelman College and a MA in Women's and Gender Studies from Roosevelt University. She is currently a MPH candidate in the division of Community Health Sciences, Maternal and Child Health Concentration. She will be starting her second year in Fall 2009. Outside of school, she is active in Chicago's dance community and participates in several local community organizing, social justice, and grassroots campaigns. |
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E-mail: rbrown33@uic.edu |
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Brittney Lilly, Treasurer |
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Brittney Lilly is a native of Detroit, Michigan. Although a northerner, she traveled south to pursue her undergraduate studies. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Alabama A&M University in May 2008. As an undergraduate, Brittney participated in various summer programs; one of which exposed her to the injustices in our health care system and led her to pursue a master of public health degree. She is currently a 2nd year student in the MPH program in the Health Policy and Administration division. Since enrolled in the program, she has worked as a research assistant on the Acculturation and Mental Health on Chronic Disease among Hispanic/Latino Immigrant Populations project. While at the School of Public Health, Brittney desires to have an active roll in the growth and success of her minority peers. |
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E-mail: blilly3@uic.edu |
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Lolade Akintunde, Secretary |
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Lolade Akintunde (pronounced Low-la-day Ah-kin-toon-day) was born in the city of Chicago and raised on the North side of Chicago, IL and Morton Grove, IL. After graduating from Niles West High School in 2001, she ventured to the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. She completed a Community Health, Health Education bachelor of science degree at UIUC in 2005 and continued to pursue a nursing degree here at University of Illinois at Chicago in 2006. Prior to bridging over to UIC, Lolade participated in the Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) at UIUC where she was able to work alongside two well distinguished professors (Dr. Susan Farner and Dr. Stephen Notaro). Through her experience in SROP, she was able to research bioterrorism preparedness data and conduct tabletop exercises in rural Illinois. While at UIC, Lolade has had the opportunity to work at the HIV/AIDS Core Center with both the counselors and volunteers and at the Uptown Neighborhood Clinic with the infectious disease officers, tracking down TB cases in the city, administering/reading PPD tests and administering TB medication. This past year she was blessed with the opportunity to work closely with the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, where she facilitated the collaboration with the department and the Mikva Challenge Youth Health Council. Lolade is a current dual Community Health Sciences, MSN/MPH candidate who has plans to graduate in 2010. She is also a current RN at the University of Chicago Medical Center who enjoys advocating for her patients. She basically looks forward to jumping into whatever life brings her way. Lolade serves as an executive secretary for the Minority Students for the Advancement of Public Health. |
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E-mail: akintund@uic.edu |
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Adela Peña joined the School of Public Health full time on April 17, 2005, as the school’s first Coordinator for Graduate Career Placement. She received her B.A. degree in International Studies from Michigan State University, and a M.Ed. degree in Educational Systems Development with an emphasis in Cross-Cultural Communication and Student Personnel at Michigan State University. Prior to coming to the School of Public Health, Adela served as Assistant Director for International Placement at the Office of Career Services at Michigan State University, after which she became the Assistant Director for Career Services and Internships at DePaul University. She also worked as Assistant Director in the Office of Career Services at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Adela is an experienced resource for minority students. Adela is currently the Co-Chair for the Career Services Council for the Association of Schools of Public Health. |
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More details... |
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Adela Peña, MEd, MSAPH Advisor |
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E-mail: adela@uic.edu |
