Peer-Advising Drop-In Center
Welcome to the peer advising website! We are here to help you understand public health and the nature of the Public Health Sciences major. During drop-in hours we help with course selection, academic requirement report (ARR), internships, study abroad, research opportunities, five-college courses, volunteer opportunities and Honors courses. We also connect our students to university resources including counseling, tutoring and other personal, cultural and academic support/services. On this page you will be able to find material necessary for a helpful advising session. Also, you can meet our team of advisors below. Thank you for checking us out-- and see you soon!
Peer-Advising Drop-In Center Schedule
Peer-Advising Drop-In Center Information and FAQs
MEET YOUR PEER ADVISORS!
Elizabeth Asefa
Deanna Bunch
Ben Chase
Katie Cole
Mitch Doucette
Molly Flynn
Jessica He
Catie Piccolo
Sarra Sabouri
Hi, name is Elizabeth Asefa and I am a part of class 2013 in the Public Health Social Track with a minor in Education. My favorite collateral field course has been Microbiology 160: Biology of Cancer and AIDS taught by Wilmore Webley. The class had a comfortable juxtaposition of biology and the social issues that make the topics of cancer and AIDS relevant. For instance, AIDS is not only a horrible disease that destroys the lives of many, but it is also a politically rooted illness in this country and in the world.
On campus, I am involved with the Student Government Association as a Judge, Adventist Christians Together to Serve (ACTS), Citizens Scholars program, and I work for Community Service Learning as a Liaison.
My advice for students is to get involved; it is amazing the power of connections to help you get to where you want to go and networking is invaluable. I am originally from Cambridge, MA, but I will spend the summer in Ann Arbor, Michigan for an internship working on health disparities with their Public Health department. I chose Public Health because I firmly believe in social justice and want to see it happen through the medical field.
My favorite UMass memory thus far was Southwest Week 2010. I had such a great time relaxing with the Southwest community in that atmosphere. I really enjoyed it and found it to be a great social experience.
Hi! My name is Deanna Bunch and I’m originally from Brooklyn, New York. I’m majoring in Public Health on the Science Track with a minor in Women, Gender, Sexuality Studies program, graduating in May 2012 with a Bachelors of Science. My favorite Public Health course is My Body My Health taught by Dan Gerber. Dan Gerber taught this class in a way that gave students interest in the field of Public Health. Dan also kept it real which allowed me to have a valuable learning experience and is why I would recommend students it, regardless if they are in the major or not. This class actually sparked my interest in applying to the major and I am sure it has done the same for others.
As a Resident Assistant, I enjoy spending time with my fellow cluster staff and building a community for my residents in Gorman/Wheeler. Also working at the Fine Arts Center Box Office and interning with the Women of Color Leadership Network, I am able to gain knowledge about women’s issues and build my network. Although I am not sure what I want to do after college, I am interested in helping others make a difference in their community and communities around the world. I like that Public Health is a flexible major but at the same time does require students to be proactive in order to complete major requirements. My favorite UMass memory is when Jay-Z performed at the Mullins Center and I expect more exciting events like this to come in the future.
My name is Ben Chase. I’m a Public Health major on the science track with a collateral field in anthropology. I am also a double major in Biology with a minor in Spanish and am part of the class of 2013. My favorite public health class is definitely Public Health 129-Healthcare for All with Paula Stamps. What I liked the most was being able to learn all of the terminology of healthcare because subjects like private hospitals, Medicare, Medicaid, and community-based healthcare are recurrent themes in healthcare that will show up in more sophisticated courses. This is also an issue that is so prevalent in the news right now so after taking that course I felt much more informed about Obamacare and all of the developments in the news.
Apart from being a peer advisor for Public Health, I am also the chairperson for the Relay for Life for the 5 college area, a brother in Pi Kappa Phi which is a philanthropy fraternity, a member of the ski and board club, outdoor club, public health club, premed club, and sustainability club. I work at Franklin Dining Commons and also work part time in the ecology lab analyzing bird calls. Apart from this, I have had an internship in the Oncology unit at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in which I analyzed this department both from a biological and a public health perspective. While I was there, I also picked up a job working in transportation, moving patients all around the hospital in order to have more patient-staff opportunities. This summer, I plan on interning for the American Cancer Society doing community outreach and helping to put together Relays for Life in Hampshire and Franklin County. Living only 20 minutes away in Hatfield MA, it is very easy for me to stay well connected in the community even into the summer.
I have a few reasons why I chose this major and why I love it so much. First, it is so relevant! No matter where you look, public health is everywhere around you. From the bike rack outside of your dorm to the water fountain down the hall from your room and the hand sanitizer in your back pack to pretty much everything going on in the news, it can be connected back to public health. The other reason I chose and love this major so much is because you can shape your own area of interest through the collateral field. For instance, although I am on the science track and taking foundation classes for that, I am also taking anthropology classes to curve some of my public health principles around that discipline. If I have any advice for the students coming into this major, it is to go into public health with an open mind because you will often surprise yourself in what interests you. Some of my favorite memories from UMass have come from meeting people in public health outside of the classroom at different events like the Relay for Life and admiring this community we have made, all giving back to the area and fighting for a common cause. After UMass, I am probably going to go to graduate school here and then either work for the American Cancer Society or go to medical school.
My name is Katie Cole and I am a part of the class of 2012. I’ve grown up living in the Amherst area and some of my favorite activities include hiking, snowboarding, playing soccer, and travelling. I've had the opportunity to study abroad twice to both Copenhagen and India, and enjoyed two incredibly different but amazing experiences.
I entered UMass as a business major but early on decided to also pursue public health after taking ‘Healthcare for All’ which helped me to realize what I was truly interested in. With my double major, I’ve had the opportunity to take a variety of classes and to learn to balance a heavy workload. My favorite public health class thus far has been “Health Politics and Policy” and I also really enjoyed a Holistic Wellness class I took through the Honors College. These classes, along with my time abroad, sparked my interest in Health Policy and Integrative Medicine.
The summer of 2011 I worked with a team at Tufts Health Plan analyzing policies in the Medicare sector, which is an area I want to pursue after graduation. I also plan on enrolling in a dual degree program getting both my MBA and MPH. My advice to students would be to not take classes based on how easy they are but rather on the content. If the subject is interesting then the work will be more gratifying. If anyone has questions regarding double majoring, Honors College, study abroad, or just general questions I am always willing to help.
My name is Mitch Doucette and I am from Northborough, MA. Currently, I am double majoring in Public Health (social science track) and Economics. The reason I chose this major was because it stems from my volunteer work in high school. I volunteered at the New England Center for Children and was able to interact with students with autism. I learned valuable lessons about working with and helping out kids with autism. After I took Public Health 160: My Body, My Health, I determined that Public Health was a field that interested me.
I work at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Annual Fund and will be interning at Northborough’s Public Health Department for the summer of 2011. The best advice I have for students is to always ask questions when you are unsure of what classes you are supposed to take.
My favorite Public Health course was PUBHLTH 490C taught by Professor Rodriquez-Monguio. This class is responsible for spurring my interest in Economics, which ultimately lead to my double major. My plans for after UMass are either working in the public health field or applying to graduate school here at UMass for an M.S. or M.P.H. in Health Policy and Management. What I like about this major is the creativity it allows a student to have. Initially, I had no interest in economics and had no idea what I wanted for a collateral field. It was only after several Economics and Public Health classes that I realized the connection between both fields of study and choose to pursue a double major. My favorite UMass memory would have to be all of the people I have met throughout my time here.
My name is Molly Flynn and I am a double major in Public Health and Psychology. I am on the social science track, and will be graduating in 2013. I became a Public Health major because it is so interdisciplinary and yet it teaches one overall message - preventative care. I also love how public health encourages students to volunteer and give back to their community. My favorite course for the social science track requirement is definitely PSYCH 380 Abnormal Psychology. This class was not only extremely interesting, but it also opened my eyes to the mental health field. After taking this course I knew that I wanted to focus my work after school in mental health and incorporate my public health and psychology background.
I am very involved in Habitat for Humanity on campus and off. I have gone on two Habitat spring break trips in Mobile, AL and Miami, FL. My biggest advice to students is to get involved! Whether in a volunteer group like Habitat for Humanity, or a club or a job, getting involved is one of the most important things to do on an active campus like UMass. Also, definitely go on an alternative spring break trip before graduating! I’ve had some of my best memories at UMass on these trips and they really are an experience you will never forget.
Hi, my name is Jessica He, but everyone calls me Jess. I am a Public Health major on the science track with two minors -- Kinesiology and Sociology -- graduating in Spring 2012. I was born in Guangzhou, China and have lived in various parts of Connecticut before moving to Pittsfield, MA.
My favorite UMass memory happened recently: I received the Student Alumni Association Student Leadership Award which recognized my work with all the different organizations I am involved with. Coming from a disadvantaged family lacking in social and monetary capital, this moment proved that students coming from any background can evolve into a leader on campus. Currently, I am a Co-Head Public Health Peer Advisor, Resident Assistant, Student Admissions Representative, and Ambassador for the Student Alumni Association. In the past, I was the Vice President of the Public Health Club, Lieutenant Governor to the Orchard Hill Area Government, member of the Red Cross Club, and volunteer at the Boltwood Project, Amherst Senior Center, BANGS Community Center, and Berkshire Medical Center. I have also interned at UMass's Environmental Health and Safety Department and Hadley at Elaine Care and Alzheimer's Rehabilitation Center as an Activities Aid. This summer (2011), I am excited to be going to Chiang Mai Thailand to study abroad and finish my Sociology minor.
Truth be told, I switched into this major as a freshman in my quest to become a nurse. As life would have it, I enjoyed my experience in my Public Health classes too much to continue pursuing that goal and have a new dream to join the Peace Corps after college. With that said, I love this major because of its flexibility to accommodate my ever changing aspirations through the turbulent life that is college. I have no remorse in taking any of my classes even when I changed my mind about career paths several times because each course helped shape my mind. In saying so, my biggest advice for students is to keep an open mind even when you think you have everything planned out for you. At first, I thought I was going to get my second bachelors degree in Nursing. Then, I took my favorite collateral field course called Human Performance and Nutrition taught by Barry Braun and was inspired to become a Physical Therapist. After that, I was involved with an internship which led me to the Peace Corps dream. I still have one more year left in which I don't know where life will take me, but taking my own advice, I will keep an open mind throughout.
My name is Catie Piccolo and I am from Burlington, MA. I am on the social science track, graduating in the spring of 2012 with a bachlor of science degree in Public Health along with a certificate in Public Policy and Administration and a minor in Psychology. My favorite Public Health class is PUBHLTH 129 Health Care for All. It gave a great background of our health care system which I believe is really important in this major. I chose this major because I am very interested in health care and enjoy helping people.
On campus, I serve as the President to the Public Health Club and the Co-Head of the Public Health Peer Advisors. I also work at the Donahue Institute which is the UMass President's Office. I have worked at the American Cancer Society as a Patient Services intern and Lahey Clinic as an office intern. This summer (2011) I will be studying abroad in Amsterdam, Geneva, and Morocco learning about comparative health policy in these three different countries. After UMass, I plan to enroll in graduate school to get a degree in Health Policy Administration. My advice for students is to try to get internships even if they are unpaid. They will give you the experience and knowledge you need to make future career decisions!
Hi everyone! My name is Sarra Sabouri from Melrose, MA, and I’m on the Social Science Track graduating in 2013. Along with my involvement with the Peer Advising team, I will be the Vice President of the Public Health Club for the 2011-2012 school year. I have been in the major since the beginning and have learned a lot about the Public Health major throughout my time at UMass.
After my undergraduate career, I will most likely remain in school to attain an M.P.H. and hopefully find a successful career after that. Coming into college, I knew I wanted to work in healthcare, but I just wasn’t sure what aspect of the field I wanted to be involved with. I really enjoy how Public Health is a field that allows its professionals to confront complex health issues that occur in every day life. Last summer I interned at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston as a Research Assistant. I worked on various experiments in the lab and got the chance to shadow a doctor, nurse, and the administrative staff to get a feel for their professions. This summer I will be interning at The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare, which is a non-profit organization operating under Massachusetts General Hospital. They are mainly responsible for enhancing patient-caregiver relationships, various grants, a speaker series, and other events, so to intern with them will be a comprehensive and, hopefully, rewarding experience.
Having the overall experience as a UMass student has been such an incredible
time so far! When I was a freshman, I was SO nervous to meet new people and
being exposed to such a large campus intimidated me. But looking back, everybody
was so down to earth and friendly that I adjusted and blended in just fine. Be
sure to take advantage of everything UMass has to offer. Especially as a student
in the Public Health major, we have the opportunity to be a part of a diverse
and dynamic field, so I definitely suggest everyone looks into the various
activities or clubs we have and get involved. I'm looking forward to helping you
all out in every way possible. Remain focused, stay confident, and be sure to
have fun!
