From Knowing to Becoming: What We’re Carrying Forward from Our MPH Journeys
- Curtis Hartley Jr.
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
At AKA, we believe public health is personal. That’s why we make space to reflect—not just on what we do, but on how we show up as whole people in the work. This month, we gathered to talk about what we’re taking with us from our Master of Public Health (MPH) journeys, what challenged us, and how we’re continuing to transform.
Curtis, Kesiena, and Yolanda are three recent MPH graduates who brought their full selves into the conversation, guided by Dr. Allyson Kelley. Together, they shared reflections about advocacy, love, loss, boundaries, and growth.
Their stories reminded us that wellness isn't just a theory—it's a lived experience. And transformation begins when we show up honestly, support one another, and believe in our capacity to change systems from the inside out.
Finding the Language to Lead
Yolanda didn’t start her public health career in a classroom—she started it in her community.
“When I joined the MPH program, I started hearing words I’d been living for years—social determinants of health, community-based solutions. I just didn’t have the words for them before.”
Now, she’s continuing her advocacy for two often-overlooked areas: early childhood education and workplace wellness, especially for women in male-dominated industries.
“The ages 0 to 5 are critical. That’s when children’s brains grow the fastest, and yet early education is always first on the chopping block. That’s public health, too.”
Love is a Public Health Intervention
For Kesiena, the MPH experience was both academic and spiritual. She spoke about the resilience it took to leave her home country, navigate culture shock, and pursue a dream that sometimes felt too big to hold.
“I’ve always believed I was meant to make change—even small change. And now I know I can.”
But when asked what one radical force could truly transform public health?
Her answer: love.
“If we had more love—for ourselves and others—it would change everything. It would change how we treat each other, how we care for our communities, and how we show up in the world.”
Boundaries Are Part of the Work
Curtis offered a powerful reminder that doing good work doesn’t mean doing all the work.
“Public health folks burn out fast. We care so much we forget we’re human. Sometimes the most radical thing you can do is say no—and mean it.”
Throughout his MPH journey, Curtis stayed grounded in his identity. Whether challenging norms around gender and data collection or showing up to meetings in overalls and a crop top, he insisted that authenticity matters.
“People respect what I bring to the table—not what I wear to it. That’s being human in 2025.”
Support Makes It Sustainable
Each student named the importance of support systems: professors like Tamar and Nikka, peers who helped with homework, and community members who offered encouragement when things got hard.
“We didn’t always have it figured out,” Kesiena said, laughing. “But we asked questions. We showed up. We kept pushing forward.”
This conversation reinforced what we know at AKA: that mentorship, collaboration, and peer learning create lasting impact—far beyond graduation.
What We’re Carrying Forward
So, what advice do these new public health professionals have for the next wave of students, scholars, and community leaders?
Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to push for what you need.
Build relationships. Public health is collaborative.
Try new things. Use your MPH to explore what matters most to you.
Be kind to yourself. Grace is part of the work.
At AKA, we’re proud to walk alongside public health learners who are not just studying systems—they’re changing them. This conversation was a reminder that the best research, advocacy, and practice is rooted in love, community, and the courage to be human.
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