Maddelynn (Maddy) Brooks is a rising junior from Hershey, Pennsylvania concentrating in International and Public Affairs and Public Health. Following her undergraduate program, she plans to attend medical school and conduct research. Maddy is deeply passionate about Maternal and Child Health and Reproductive Justice. She is particularly interested in how policy affects public health. Outside of school, Maddy enjoys exercising, reading, spending time with friends, and trying new coffee shops. She is excited to work on a policy project with Dr. Caroline Kistin this summer. 

Mia Cooper is a first year MPH student studying maternal and child health. She graduated in the spring of 2024 from Saint Michael's College with a BA in Public Health and Psychology. While her previous research was focused on psychopharmacology and e-cigarette use, she is passionate about maternal mental health and reproductive justice.  She is looking forward to continuing her work with Dr. Silverstein this summer where she has roles at both the Autism Project and the Boston Medical Center. Both projects use Problem Solving Evaluation (PSE) as an intervention tool for varying populations and has been a rewarding and enjoyable experience to learn. Along with school, Mia works as a project manager for a small organization based in Providence RI that works to help individuals access and understand their healthcare. She hopes to continue working towards health equity through projects and brown and around RI. Mia also enjoys listening to music, running and training for road races with her friends in Providence with the promise of trying a new cafe afterwards. 

Charis Haynes is a rising second-year MPH student concentrating in Health Services at the Brown University School of Public Health. She is passionate about women’s health and plans to ultimately become an OB-GYN who also contributes to health policy development. Charis is originally from Covington, Georgia and graduated from Howard University with a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Political Science. She is excited to work as a Hassenfeld Summer Scholar under the mentorship of Dr. Emily Miller to advance maternal health research. In her free time, Charis enjoys traveling, making memories with loved ones, cooking, and playing basketball. 

Rashi Patel is a first-year Master’s student at the Brown University School of Public Health, pursuing her MPH with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health. She earned her Bachelor of Science from the University of Toronto in summer 2023, where she double majored in Health Studies and Human Biology. Rashi is passionate about maternal and child health issues, particularly gestational diabetes, postpartum depression, and exploring how maternal nutrition impacts fetal and early childhood development. As a Hassenfeld Summer Scholar, she is excited to work with Dr. Rimi Sen and Dr. Carmen Monthè-Drèze on research examining how maternal dietary profiles during pregnancy influence child eating behaviors and childhood obesity. She hopes to contribute to evidence that informs early-life interventions and promotes healthier outcomes for families at a population level. Outside of her academic pursuits, Rashi enjoys reading, listening to music, painting, and is always on the lookout for new cafes and desserts to try around Providence.

Marymar Vacio Lazalde is a first-year MPH student in the Interdisciplinary concentration. Marymar received her B.A. in Public Health Policy and B.A. in International Studies from the University of California, Irvine in 2021. She is a Los Angeles native, so she is enjoying the different seasons here in Providence! 

Marymar's research interests include Latino mental health, community health, and socioeconomic health disparities. As a Hassenfeld Summer Scholar, she is excited to work with Dr. Emily Feinberg and Andrea Chu on a project integrating community health workers into integrated behavioral health care teams. Through her research and involvements, Marymar hopes to increase the utilization of mental health resources in the Latino community and destigmatize mental illnesses. 

When she is not studying, Marymar is daydreaming about her next trip to Japan, shopping for trinkets, trying new cafes, or visiting art museums!