With research-based interventions ranging from gun violence prevention to nutrition access, TC’s next wave of health graduates will build upon a long legacy of scholarship and practice in service of others. Ahead of the College’s Convocation ceremonies on May 14 and 15, a few of the next generation’s health changemakers gave us an inside look at what drives them and what’s next.
Meet Alexa Andrade (M.A. ’24, Cognitive Science in Education)
Hometown: Hacienda Heights, California
How She Makes an Impact: Mentoring students at the Borough of Manhattan Community College as an academic coach. “Being able to give back to other students and help them be successful, that's what really motivates me,” explains Andrade, who also served as a research assistant at TC’s Neurocognition, Early Experience and Development (NEED) Lab. “I'd love to be a light for students and help them be as successful as they can possibly be.”
What Matters: Andrade comes from a family of educators, which piqued her own interest to pursue a career in education, but it was the help she received from her undergraduate mentor that gave her the confidence to push forward during difficult times, and desire to pay it forward in her own work. In her current role, she feels a sense of pride in being able to guide students along their journey.
She also believes in the importance of choosing kindness daily. “We have to make an active choice to be very kind, but I think choosing kindness and helping others can contribute to the collective success of society,” she said.
What’s Next: Andrade would like to earn her Ph.D. someday. Although she is still considering which aspect of her program she would like to further pursue, she knows she wants to remain in the field of higher education. “I feel very strongly that my place is in higher education and that I can do a lot of good there,” she said.
Meet Chioma Ogechi Egekeze (Ed.D. ’24, Health Education)
Hometown(s): Piscataway, New Jersey and Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
How She Makes an Impact: Advancing research and scholarship in noncommunicable diseases and maternal health, Egekeze aims to “contribute to the creation of sustainable, equitable, and culturally sensitive health systems that empower communities and individuals.” Her research experience includes her dissertation work of assessing outcomes for blood-pressure medication adherence in Sub-Saharan Africa, and identifying implementation outcomes for the prevention of obstetric hemorrhage in low- and middle-income countries.
“I hope to continue to inform the use of evidence-based interventions and implementation science in order to address critical health challenges specific to the continent of Africa,” explains the TC grad, a recipient of the Ruth K. Caille Scholarship Fund and Laurie M. Tisch Endowed Doctoral Scholarship. “I envision working directly with health stakeholders within communities, governments, and organizations, to implement evidence-based interventions that address the root causes of health disparities.”
What Matters: Egekeze’s faith as a Christian and passion to help others is what matters to her. In her final year at TC, the graduate stood on the Bible verse Philippians 4:13, which states “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” “As I pursued my research,” she says, “I was indeed strengthened and encouraged to push through, knowing that my work would help to transform the wellbeing of others.” Throughout her years of higher learning, Egekeze has remained focused on her purpose to directly “address the needs of patients and communities,” and advance health equity globally.
What’s Next: Egekeze will embark on public health opportunities that build upon her research experience. “I hope to take on opportunities that expand upon the areas emphasized in my dissertation research, such as health education and improving health outcomes on the continent of Africa,” says the grad, who also looks forward to returning to her passions for painting and the arts.
Meet Jay Gendron (M.S. ’24, Nutrition Education)
Hometown: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
How She Hopes to Make an Impact: Working with kids to optimize their health and development through balanced, healthy eating. For Gendron, a research assistant at the Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education, and Policy, early intervention is critical: “Having the tools to start off your life with good nutrition and healthy habits really sets people up for success.”
What Matters: “Growing and cooking food have always been important ways that I related to the people around me,” explains Gendron, who sees Louisiana’s food scene and culture as essential for cultivating her passion for nutrition. “Food is one of the biggest things that brings people together and builds community.”
What’s Next: The TC grad — whose research focused on the intersection of culinary nutrition, food access, agriculture, and sustainability — will take the registered dietician exam, then embark on the job search. “I’m looking forward to seeing where new opportunities take me,” says Gendron, a recipient of the Nutritional Ecology Endowed Scholarship Fund.
Meet Keren Gunawan (Ed.M. ’24, Intellectual Disability/Autism in Early Childhood)
Hometown: Situbondo, East Java, Indonesia
How She Makes an Impact: Ensuring her students are loved and heard through day-to-day teaching in the classroom, plus working with nonprofits in Indonesia and New York City to develop curricula and improve access to learning experiences. “I want to share what I have learned with other early childhood educators back in Indonesia,” Gunawan says.
What Matters: Improving equity across experiences (including education) for children. While teaching in Indonesia, Gunawan observed the various barriers for children with special needs — ranging from service access to stigma — in a way that illuminated her calling. “That inspired me to pursue this field, hoping to learn ways to provide access for children and families and share it with other educators,” says the TC grad, who says her TC experiences and internships have prepared her to meet the needs of students from different cultural contexts.
What’s Next: Traveling to Malawi, Africa, to learn from a non-governmental organization supporting differently-abled children. Following her trip to Africa, Gunawan will teach a summer program in New York City before returning to Indonesia, where she’ll continue work related to literacy and teacher preparation.
Meet Tyler Wang (M.A. ’24, Applied Physiology)
Hometown: Beijing, China
How He Makes an Impact: Supporting athletes’ health and success through scientific analysis. As an Applied Sports Science Apprentice for the Houston Texans, Wang helps monitor performance metrics for the pro-football players — closely examining changes in key health data to “make sure they’re on track.“ and ensuring the accuracy and quality of various data collection operations.
“We set them up for success the best way we can,” explains Wang, who worked with the 2023 March Madness champions UConn men’s basketball team and Rutgers football before joining the Texans. “Whether it's in sports performance or data science, I just hope to make a positive impact wherever I go.”
What Matters: Working with athletes, Wang finds it important to keep an open mind. “I always think of myself as someone who knows the least when walking into a room,” says Wang, a national-level powerlifter himself. “Always try to learn something from someone regardless of your power dynamics or position because everyone comes from different backgrounds and thinks of things differently. You can always take something away from another person's point of view.”
What’s Next: Having just completed his graduation integrative project on workload monitoring strategies in American football and basketball, Wang aims to continue demonstrating his value by making an impact with the Texans and in the NFL. “I would like to tie in my own passion for data science and sports, and use that in my role to bring forth novel ideas to the program and new insights in the sports science field.”