Corinne A. Johnson Memorial Scholarship
Corinne A. Johnson Memorial Scholarship
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 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 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 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.