Alextia Armstrong

What inspired you to study public health?

Growing up on Chicago’s Southside (a heavily industrialized area) and obtaining my BA in Environmental Studies from DePaul gave me a lot of exposure to the detrimental effects of anthropogenic pollutants and climate change. I felt that I needed to further prepare myself to tackle these issues by attending one of the best schools in this nation that address and dedicate their time to protecting the public’s health–this is what inspired me to study public health.

What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career/studies so far?

The single most rewarding experience of my studies so far is witnessing my peers, alongside with professors effectively working together to come up with solutions to better the future and protect the public’s health.

What is the one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were starting out in public health?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help or guidance when school, work or life gets tough… You will always have supporters willing to fight for you–to make sure you succeed.

What do you think is the biggest challenge that the public health field should be focusing on?

The biggest challenge the public health field should be focusing on is teaching people how to adjust to climate change and live sustainable lives.