Student Profile: Barbara Mottey
Barbara Mottey is a fourth-year PhD student in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences
Q: Tell us about yourself.
I am a 4th year PhD candidate in the Environmental Health Sciences (EHS) program with a focus on air pollution in Sub-Saharan Africa and its impact on maternal and child health. Specifically, I want to understand the degree of air pollution levels in urbanizing cities, of countries with little to no data, and how this translates into birth outcomes like birthweights, preterm; as well as respiratory illness in children under 5. The knowledge gained will be used to develop and improve models to help in predicting air pollution levels as well as birth outcomes for resource-poor settings.
Q: Why did you choose UMass?
UMass was my preferred choice for graduate study. I graduated from my master’s program in 2019. It was my preference because of my adviser then, Dr. Leontine Alkema. She is well vested in maternal and child health and works with World Health Organization by building models to predict stillbirth rates for different countries and globally. The research influences decisions and interventions designed to reduce stillbirth rates. She was very instrumental in my master’s studies alongside other faculty members in the department of biostatistics and epidemiology. During my master's program, I was thrilled to learn that UMass upholds diversity and inclusion in high esteem. They have instituted different groups and committees to support each student no matter their race, ethnicity, religion, economic status, sexual orientation, or gender.
I chose to stay at UMass for my PhD because of that and the support the school provided to students during 2020 and 2021 when COVID-19 hit the world. They quickly pivoted to make sure teaching and learning continued and offered counseling and wellbeing programs to help students and staff through the overwhelming period. The support from the school, the department, the African Graduates and Scholars Association, and women groups are worth commending as these are still ongoing. The Office of Inclusion and Engagement has been very supportive in making this PhD journey a smooth transition. I am a recipient of the Spaulding -Smith fellowship program which is awarded to outstanding doctoral students from underrepresented groups within STEM. In Spring 2024, I was one of the awardees for a travel grant by the Office of the Provost to attend the Faculty Women of Color in the Academy (FWCA) National Conference. The conference was a way for women of color at all different levels of their career in academia to network in hopes of developing better strategies to thrive in the academic setting amid maintaining your wholesome wellbeing including having a social life and a family.
Finally, UMass has state-of-the-art facilities, amenities and laboratories that support innovative research. The faculty also create opportunities for collaboration by introducing their students to collaborators and partners in other departments, from other schools, and research centers in the United States and abroad.
Q: What is your favorite thing about the Enviromental Health Sciences department?
The EHS department is full of faculty that are concerned about the progress of their students academically, professionally, and their general wellbeing. They are very friendly and easy to approach for assistance, whether they are your direct supervisors or not. You see the genuineness in the assistance they offer you which ranges from settling in as a new student, to enrolling in the proper courses, and how to write effectively while not losing yourself. My colleague graduate students in the department are like family. I've been fortunate to have a tight knit community even outside of my studies. We enjoy happy hours, potlucks, friendsgivings, hiking, and attend hockey games and baseball together.
Q: What is your favorite thing about the School of Public Health and Health Sciences?
The interdisciplinary nature of SPHHS is commendable; the research that the faculty are doing across the various departments, are very relevant to the field. That gives students insight into what they are expected to do outside of the classroom while becoming equipped with knowledge and skills for the field. The courses offered in the school are well structured to prepare students to succeed outside of the classroom while contributing to the promotion of equitable and diverse public health policies.
Q: If someone was considering attending UMass, what would you tell them?
That it will be a great decision to make. The faculty are very attentive to the needs of each student and provide the maximum support needed to help students sail through the program successfully. You will never feel abandoned to figure things out on your own. Each faculty has unique skills and expertise and when you tap into these, you will become a versatile student and researcher in the field of environmental health.
Q: How has the EHS department set you up for future success?
The department teaches you to be a good team player. You get to collaborate in classes by doing group work and research with lab mates and colleagues. The department supports us with travel grants to conferences each year. Conference attendance helps expand knowledge of the field and helps create a niche for yourself. I've been able to attend a number of conferences to present my work. In 2023 I was the APHA Applied Public Health Statistics poster award winner. I also won the first-place poster award at the 2024 SPHHS Research Day, and that same year I gave my first oral presentation at the Conference of International Society for Environmental Epidemiology (ISEE) in Santiago, Chile.
Q: What do you plan to do after graduating?
My greatest desire is to be a public health professor while contributing to cutting-edge research that is impactful in policy formulation regarding air pollution in sub-Saharan Africa. In conjunction, I want to explore opportunities to work with international organizations that are interested in and focused on addressing climate issues in low-and-middle income countries.