New Student Advisory Committee Brings Diversity and Inclusion Perspectives to BSPH Program

Tuesday, Jul 27, 2021

The Bachelor of Science in Public Health program in the University of Texas at Arlington Department of Kinesiology has a new advisory committee led by students to enhance and improve diversity and inclusion in the program’s events and activities. The BSPH Student Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion is comprised of seven students from both the online and campus based BSPH program. The committee’s faculty advisors are Dr. Rebecca Garner, Clinical Associate Professor and BS Public Health Program Director and Dr. Brandie Green, Clinical Assistant Professor.

“As our students go on to be the next generation of the public health workforce, our job at UTA is to prepare them to be champions of diversity, promote inclusion, and to be those change makers in public health,” shared Dr. Garner. “It is important to provide a variety of experiential learning activities that allow the students to stretch themselves and explore new and different ways of thinking and doing. The BSPH SACDI members will provide valuable input to these learning and professional development opportunities. These activities allow students the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding on a more personal level through these types of lived experiences.”

The program owes its kick-off to Masters of Public Health student Merline Fougere, who spent over 200 hours developing and preparing the handbook, application process and communications strategy for the advisory committee’s implementation. The committee’s biggest focus is on the planning of diversity and inclusion focused events for both the program’s annual conference and National Public Health Week.

“We are trying to implement more extracurriculars to promote diversity and inclusion and promote awareness,” shared Shaikh Ullahansari, a campus based BSPH student who also works part-time as a medical assistant and hopes to go on to an MPH/MD program when he graduates.

For Ullahansari, diversity is not just skin color, but it is everything, from religion to economic status, all of which are important to understand in a public health career. “Trying to promote diversity and inclusion means having a healthier and happier public, that’s the goal. The more appreciative you are of diversity and inclusion, understanding differences, and being able to address that, the better you can promote health.”

For many students, the biggest opportunities to network and further their professional development are through the annual events the committee will now help put together says Dr. Garner.

“Our BSPH SACDI members think big,” said Dr. Garner. “I love their passion for service to the BSPH program, as they explore their new committee roles. I believe it demonstrates how a group can come together and engage in something that is bigger than just one person as they prepare to continue with their future advocacy efforts.”.”

Eventually, Dr. Garner would like to see the role of the advisory committee expand to include a variety of activities, such as new elective courses, community outreach options, and other experiential-, or service-learning proposals. For now, in the advisory committee’s inaugural year, they are excited to get started and lay the foundation for future diversity and inclusion champions.