Corinne A. Johnson Memorial Scholarship

Austin Bartlett

Austin Bartlett

Austin Bartlett, originally from Naugatuck, Connecticut, is pursuing his master's degree in environmental health sciences. From an early age, he was a member of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) program. In high school, Austin joined the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC). Austin accumulated thousands of hours of community service between AFJROTC, BSA, and the American Legion. He soon enlisted in the Air National Guard (ANG) with dreams of becoming a Public Health officer in the United States Public Health Services.  

It is with great honor and privilege that I can write this in acceptance of this scholarship. I feel humbled to be selected as one of the recipients who were determined to display the aspects of Corinne A. Johnson.

Michelle Boralessa

Michelle Boralessa

Michelle Boralessa will soon be starting her second year as a Master of Public Health student in the Environmental Health Sciences Department at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She currently works with Dr. Song Liang on his research related to enteropathogenic infection among children in low-to-middle-income countries. Michelle’s primary research interest is how the intersection of human health and the environment is shifting due to climate change. Her passion for environmental health is rooted in her identity as a Sri Lankan American. Her experiences in Sri Lanka opened her eyes to a world of health inequities and inspired her to pursue this degree. Specifically, she is fascinated by mosquito-borne illnesses; she authored her undergraduate thesis on the progress of malaria elimination programs in Sri Lanka and Nigeria. Michelle aims to work in global environmental health in the future.

Thank you for the honor of being selected for the Corinne A. Johnson Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship will help me to focus on my academics rather than the financial costs of my degree. Thanks to your generosity, I am one step closer to achieving my dream of working in global environmental health. I am deeply inspired by Corinne A. Johnson’s story, and I will do my best to embody her spirit in everything I do.

Carissa Lange

Carissa Lange

Carissa Lange is entering her fourth year as a PhD candidate in the environmental health sciences program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Under the supervision of Dr. Raphael Arku, she conducts research that assesses the influence of air and noise pollution exposures on a variety of adverse health outcomes among infants and children in Sub-Saharan Africa. Also, Carissa has served as a teaching assistant for many undergraduate and graduate courses and will be a teaching associate for an introductory public health course for the second time in the fall. Carissa is also a member of the School of Public Health and Health Sciences Dean’s Student Advisory Board, where she plays an active role advising the Dean, organizing student events, and providing ideas to improve the student experience. Before her work at UMass, Carissa obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Environmental Science from Allegheny College and a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Management from Duquesne University. Both her previous and present research have led to her passion for understanding how environmental policy decisions influence public health, especially in underserved communities. Outside the classroom, Carissa teaches dance at a local studio, serves as a volunteer Counselor Advocate for the Center for Women and Community, and assists as a chapter advisor for the Delta Mu chapter of Alpha Chi Omega.

I cannot thank you enough for rewarding me with the Corinne A. Johnson Memorial Scholarship, as your generosity will serve as a catalyst for many of my future research pursuits. I hope that you can take pride in my dedication to furthering my education and advancing the health of communities.

Lindsey Russo

Lindsey Russo

Lindsey Russo is a PhD candidate in Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She has extensive experience in reproductive epidemiology. Lindsey is mentored by Dr. Carrie Nobles and is working on data through the support of Dr. Nobles’ collaborations to explore the relation between ambient air pollution with male and couple-level reproductive health. Lindsey worked as a summer intern with NIEHS in 2021, a 2020-21 Graduate Grant Writing Scholar with the Center for Research on Families, and plans to pursue a career as a professor in the future.

Thank you for the true honor of receiving the 2024 Corrine A. Johnson Memorial Scholarship. As a PhD candidate soon to embark on a postdoctoral fellowship, this scholarship will provide an excellent source of support as I complete my doctoral dissertation. I feel so supported by the donors who support the Corrine A. Johnson Award in my career aspirations to pursue an independent career in research. I am so grateful to the Environmental Health Sciences Department at UMass Amherst and the EHS Scholarship Committee for this support. 

Elaine Briggs Internship Fund

Olatunbosun Arowolo

Olatunbosun Arowolo

Olatunbosun (Bosun) Arowolo is a doctoral candidate at the Department of Environmental Health Sciences. Under the supervision of Dr. Alexander Suvorov, he conducts research that provides an understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for the regulation of rates of epigenetic aging of sperm, characterizing these mechanisms as a novel adverse outcome pathway, linking xenobiotic exposures and sperm epigenetic aging. Before enrolling at UMass Amherst, He earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental management and toxicology at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria in 2014. In 2018, he completed his master’s degree in environmental biology and public health at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria. Between 2016 and 2020, he worked as a research assistant and later as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences at Elizade University, Ondo State, Nigeria. His hobbies are teaching, researching, and traveling.

Please kindly accept my heartfelt appreciation for the Elaine Briggs Internship Fund. Your confidence in my capabilities and your generous support are deeply appreciated, marking a significant milestone in my academic journey. Rest assured, I am committed to upholding the ethos of this Internship Fund as I embark on my professional endeavors, striving to effect substantial positive change.

Patricia Henegan

Patricia Henegan

Patricia Henegan is a first year Environmental Health Sciences PhD student in Dr. Richard Peltier’s air pollution laboratory. Her research interests focus on the chemical composition of air pollution and their corresponding anthropogenic sources. She works to address issues concerning air quality and convey ways to lessen and adjust to the escalating impacts of environmental injustices and climate change on vulnerable communities. Her hobbies include reading fantasy and singing show tunes. Patricia’s career goal is to become a college professor.

I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for your generous scholarship award. With this financial assistance, you have not only lightened my financial burden but also provided me with the opportunity to focus more intently on my studies and pursue my academic and career goals with greater determination. Your kindness has inspired me to strive for excellence and to one day pay it forward by assisting others in achieving their dreams. Thank you so much for the Elaine Briggs Internship scholarship!

Elise Pierce

Elise Pierce

Elise Pierce graduated with a B.S. in Public Health Sciences in May 2024 and is entering her 5th year at UMass Amherst as part of the 4+1 for a Master of Science in Environmental Health Sciences. She works in Dr. Laura Vandenberg’s lab at UMass where she studies the effects of environmental exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals on the mouse mammary gland. She enjoys hiking and reading, and she hopes to pursue a career as an environmental analyst.

I am so grateful to receive the Elaine Briggs Internship Award. This scholarship will make it possible for me to stay in Amherst for the summer as I pursue a research internship in Dr. Laura Vandenberg’s environmental health lab. 

The Stewart Fellowship

Barbara Mottey

Barbara Mottey

Barbara Mottey is a third year PhD student in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at UMass, Amherst who hails from Ghana. Her research interest in air pollution in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) stemmed from her discovery of how this can impact birth outcomes. Her research centers on air pollution and its impact on birth outcomes in SSA. Using a longitudinal data (5 years) from 10 fixed sites in Greater Accra Metropolitan area (GAMA), Ghana, she aims to assess the trend in PM2.5 as well as Black carbon and what factors are driving these. She would also assess how prenatal exposures to these pollutants are associated with adverse birth outcomes using a recently developed land-use regression model.

Thank you for being so generous and willing to support the drive towards a better health outcome for all by reducing exposures and/or their impacts on health through research that informs policies. Your trust in my abilities and scientific contribution means a lot to me. I am grateful for your support as I embark on my journey in becoming a professor and researcher in Environmental Health Sciences.

Kaniz Rabeya

Kaniz Rabeya

Kaniz Rabeya originated from Bangladesh. She is a second-year PhD student in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at the School of Public Health and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Kaniz earned her bachelor's and master's degrees in pharmacy from a prestigious public university in Bangladesh and she is a registered pharmacist in Bangladesh. Pursuing her passion for public health and environmental epidemiology, she is actively working on exposure to ambient temperature and its impact on men's and women's reproductive health and pregnancy outcomes under the supervision of Dr. Carrie Nobles. She is working with Dr. Nobles as a research assistant. Moreover, Kaniz had three years of teaching experience prior to enrolling at UMass Amherst and worked as a teaching assistant for the Environmental Poisons course at UMass Amherst. She wants to pursue a career in academia after leaving UMass Amherst and particularly interested in continuing research to investigate environmental risk factors for women's health, contributing to the advancement of public health knowledge and addressing pressing issues in the field.

Receiving this prestigious award is a significant milestone in my academic journey. Thank you once again sincerely for your generosity and for helping students to pursue their career. I am deeply grateful to the Environmental Health Sciences Department at UMass Amherst and the EHS Scholarship Committee for allowing me to continue my PhD program. Support from the Stewart Fellowship is crucial in helping me achieve my goals, and mere words cannot fully express my gratitude.