Connect With Students

Brianna Murillo is a second-year MPH student in the Department of Epidemiology who received her bachelor’s degree in Public Health and Political Science from UC San Diego in 2021. After graduating, Brianna was a fellow in the inaugural cohort of the California Pathways into Public Health Initiative Program. During her time there, she worked at Kern County’s Public Health Department as part of the Healthcare-Associated Infections Program. This experience solidified her decision to pursue a career in the infectious diseases field. Brianna joined the student ambassador program as a first-year student and quickly excelled in the role, providing the opportunity for her to continue as the ambassador program coordinator for the 2024-2025 academic year. In this role, Brianna will continue to advocate for the needs of FSPH students and plan events/programs that enrich the FSPH community.

Isabella Galvan is a second-year MPH student in the Department of Health Policy and Management. She earned her B.S. in Public Health from California State University, Fullerton, where she held multiple student leadership positions and spearheaded initiatives focused on strengthening student resources and advocating for student wellness in university policies. Isabella’s past roles include serving as a student researcher investigating barriers to CalFresh and as a consulting intern for Kaiser Permanente, Panorama City, where she worked on projects aimed at improving patient experience. At UCLA, Isabella serves as both a FSPH Ambassador and Co-President of the Health Policy and Management Student Association (HPMSA) , where she is committed to enhancing the student experience and providing opportunities for community building and professional development for all students.

Bryana Dyson is a second-year Master of Public Health student in the Department of Community Health Sciences who received her Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health with a double minor in Health Promotion and Psychology from American University in 2023. Her study interests include urban minority health, health communication, and reproductive justice. She currently serves as an evaluation intern for UC San Diego’s Mas Fresco Plus program, where she supports the program’s goals of increasing access to and consumption of healthy foods for community members experiencing health disparities. At UCLA, Bryana is the Program Director for the Black Graduate Student Association and a Public Health Coordinator for the UCLA Mobile Clinic Project.

Aiden Chal is a first-year MPH student in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences who received his Bachelors degree in Public Health Policy and Environmental Science and Policy from the University of California, Irvine in 2024. During his undergraduate journey, he partook in a diverse set of roles within the scopes of public health, sustainability, transportation, and research. His most pivotal role was his internship at the United States Environmental Protection Agency under the Office of Transportation and Air Quality in Washington DC where he worked on website analytics and proposals for electric vehicle promotion programs. This would eventually lead to his decision in pursuing his MPH where he could further his education and hopefully return to the EPA and continue his passion for promoting environmental health. 

Kate Higashi is a first-year MPH student in the Department of Health Policy and Management. She earned her B.S. in Public Health from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2024, where she served as a research assistant for the Sexual and Reproductive Health Lab and presented an abstract at the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. Inspired by the conference’s powerful female speakers, she developed a passion for advocating for women’s health rights. For her senior project, she served as the Public Outreach Chair at Martha’s Place Children’s Center, raising awareness about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders among pregnant mothers in San Luis Obispo County—an initiative that earned recognition from the county’s Board of Supervisors. After four years on the Central Coast, Kate returned home to Los Angeles to pursue her MPH at her dream school, UCLA. She feels fortunate to work alongside dedicated professors and passionate peers, all committed to making healthcare a fundamental human right. Most importantly, the Fielding School of Public Health fosters a dynamic learning environment where she experiences the power of education every day.

Angela is a first-year student pursuing her MPH in Community Health Sciences. Angela obtained her BA in Public Health - Global Health at the University of Washington in December of 2022. Before enrolling in the MPH program, Angela worked as a health educator at a local community health center in Everett, WA. Within this role, she supported patients in topics ranging from chronic disease management to family planning counseling. In addition to 1:1 services with patients, Angela participated in various team committees and projects such as creating the Wellness Wednesday newsletter for employee wellness, health promotion through radio programming, collaboration with local food banks to address food insecurity among the patient population, and leading a cohort as a Lifestyle coach for the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP).  Angela is committed to empowering historically marginalized populations through preventative and restorative programming. Angela is excited to work with prospective students in their journey to navigating higher education systems.

Madeline Mai is a fourth-year Public Health (B.S) major and loves being a part of the Fielding community! Her passion for public health stems from her experiences working closely with underserved communities in Kern County at the Rio Bravo Cancer Center and interning with the UCSF Oncology Database. She currently serves as an ACS CARES volunteer conducting social determinants of health assessments to enhance patient support and alleviate barriers to care. Madeline is very excited to continue as an ambassador for her second year and can’t wait to cultivate bonds with other passionate and driven individuals!

Phoebe Kim is a current fourth-year Public Health (B.S.) major and is so excited to be a part of the inaugural undergraduate cohort and one of the first undergraduate ambassadors of FSPH! Her current interests of study include the mental health of mothers specifically in immigrant and refugee communities as well as increasing quality educational access in underprivileged areas. As a San Diego native, she loves the beach, tacos, and being in the sun as much as possible!

Isabelle (Izzy) Shum is a third-year UCLA undergraduate Biology major and Public Health minor. Her public health interest is driven by her experiences working with underserved communities, in order to address adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma. She hopes to investigate the intersections of healthcare policy, community health and pediatric populations affected through her minor and is very excited to join the FSPH ambassador team! Izzy continues to work with the surrounding LA community as Co-President of UNICEF at UCLA, a board member of Project Health and a founder of Points for Pediatrics. She can also be seen on the volleyball court, cafe hopping with friends and as a certified nursing assistant (CNA) playing bingo with her residents!