Rebecca Foss

What inspired you to study public health?

I wanted to help create change at a community level regarding mental health and contribute in helping to combat the stigma around this topic. Mental health is health and addressing this at the community and population level is important to begin acceptance, treatment and healing.

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

Seeing the impact that can be made when people are given the resources that are needed and addressing gaps in these resources. I worked on a project to help identify how needs and services changed in local communities since the onset of COVID-19. Getting out there and talking to staff at community-based organizations who are in the trenches helping people was an incredible and enlightening experience. Through dissemination of my findings from these conversations, I hope to create more awareness on the importance of community-based organizations for families and individuals in times of crisis.

Advice:

There’s more to do than a single person can do. Connect, network, and collaborate—all contributions, no matter how small or large, can make a difference.

Current Position June 2023:

Director of Social Media at University of Maryland Global Campus

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