Connect with a Current Undergrad
Do you have questions about being a student in the School of Public Health and Health Professions is like? Connect with one of our student ambassadors, representatives for the school who can tell you about more about SPHHP and its academic programs.
2022-2023 Public Health Ambassadors
Angelica Bustillos
I am currently a junior majoring in public health. I have hopes of applying to the 3+2 program summer of 2023 to pursue my master's in epidemiology. This upcoming fall I will be a lab assistant at The Eating Behavior Research Laboratory and events coordinator for the Public Health Club at UB. I chose public health because ever since I was little I wanted to work in research and loved the health field. I didn’t find the right major in freshman year and decided to switch to public health without really understanding what it was. It was a leap of faith that in the end paid off for me because I fell in love with all the aspects of public health, specifically health disparities and infectious diseases.
Angelica is first-generation and Colombian!
Aria Grisham
Hi, I'm Aria! I'm a sophomore in the honors college majoring in public health with a minor in German. I have always loved public health. When I was ten years old, I decided firmly that I would one day be an epidemiologist, and, after all of these years, that dream has held true! After graduating, I plan to get my MS in epidemiology, and I would like to eventually work in infectious disease research. Outside of schoolwork, I am the secretary of Rotaract, secretary of the Public Health Club, and I also volunteer at the Tool Library. I am currently aiming to graduate early, which has led me to gain a lot of knowledge about the BS in public health program, and I'm also very involved in activities outside of my degree, so I'm always available to chat about the BS program, time management, or how to get involved with other opportunities within SPHHP!
Tina Ni
I am currently a junior majoring in public health. Coming into college, I did not know where I wanted to go in life and what I really was interested in. Switching my major multiple times, I finally decided on public health after a friend told me how broad it is and the many different fields there are. During my sophomore year, I was introduced to nutritional epidemiology from my PUB 340 course as well as cancer epidemiology from PUB 350. These two topics in public health piqued my interest in epidemiology. As of right now, I am planning to pursue a nursing degree after I finish my public health degree. At the end of my academic career, my goal is to obtain a MSN-MPH dual degree. I would like to be able to help patients from the front of the lines as well as behind the scenes from a global scale. More specifically, I plan to be an aesthetic nurse practitioner and work in epidemiology. I am grateful for this opportunity to be an SPHHP ambassador and look forward to helping any undergraduate students with any questions they may have.
Puspa Sabu
Hi! My name is Puspa and I am currently a Junior and a first-generation student focusing on public health with a minor in health professions and human services in hopes of pursuing my masters here at UB. I have always been interested in something health related but knew I didn't want to go into medicine. Prior to coming to UB I had no idea what public health was, after being undecided and taking my first pub course I realized how much I loved this field of study, and just how wide my impact can be as a public health professional. This major is so broad and I am continuously learning of different ways that I can contribute to improving population health! I am also the President of the Public Health Club here at UB, hoping to bring all of our similar interests together and share them with one another. My experience here at UB is one that I'm sure many can relate to which is why I am looking forward to being an SPHHP ambassador, and excited to provide guidance and answer any questions!
Ian Wong
I am currently a junior majoring in public health in the honors college. I switched to the public health major during my freshman year due to my freshman seminar (PUB 199). This class opened my eyes and fascinated me in the field of public health and the operations on world populations that occur behind the scenes that people are rarely aware of. I aspire to contribute to this grand cause of improving the health of the public through the field of epidemiology. I am preparing to apply to the 3+2 MPH program here at UB by the end of the 2022-2023 academic year to then work towards a PhD in epidemiology so I may gain as many connections and as much knowledge as I can to hopefully influence the public health community to further improve the world and its health. I am eager to spread the importance of public health especially as this field has gained more publicity in recent years due to the rise of COVID. In experiencing the hindrances that this pandemic invokes first-hand, I understand and relate to how frustrating and difficult the process of searching for opportunities and reaching out to others for advice is. I hope to alleviate some stress for upcoming undergraduates by providing as much information and helpful resources as possible in regards to the school of public health alongside the undergraduate experience itself.
Perla Zolt
I am currently a senior public health major who just applied to Physician Assistant school hoping to become a PA! Ever since the pandemic, I found myself loving the field of public health and constantly wanting to learn more. I work as a medical assistant at a private practice and hope to use my love for medicine to serve those all over the world. I am a research assistant in the Maternal and Child Health Lab. I also work as a tour guide for the Office of Admissions! I am so excited to spend my senior year learning more about the importance and relativity of public health, and I cannot wait to take this knowledge with me wherever I go!
2022-2023 Exercise and Nutrition Sciences Ambassadors
Tyler Cook
Hey everyone! My name is Tyler, and I am a third-year exercise science major here at Buffalo. I'm a transfer student from Alfred University, where I originally majored in athletic training. However, I had a change of heart and decided to switch my major to exercise science upon transferring in 2020. My goal is to obtain my doctorate of physical therapy here at Buffalo, and I plan to do that through the 3+3 combined program. Shadowing and volunteer work sealed the deal for me, as I knew physical therapy was the right option for me. Transferring to UB was a great decision for me as the opportunities here are endless.
I grew up in Syracuse, N.Y., and attended West Genesee High School. Growing up, I played football and basketball. In my free time I still love to toss a football around and shoot hoops. My favorite pastime is going to the gym, as it's a way for me to decompress. I'm super excited to be given the role of ambassador. If you have any questions don't be afraid to reach out! Good luck this school year!
Alexandra Judge
I am a third-year exercise science major in the Honors College with a track towards the 3+3 Physical Therapy program. I have always wanted to be a physical therapist, but it is my experiences at UB that helped me confirm this profession. While at UB, I have really enjoyed my classes, specifically the exercise science major ones, as I have loved learning about the effects of exercise on our overall health. Majoring in exercise science has helped me realize all how people can benefit by implementing regular exercise into their routine. I can’t wait to enter the job field and lead people to recovery through physical therapy. Some of my hobbies including reading, running, and spending time with my dog. I’ve lived in Buffalo for eight years now, and I really like all of the opportunities and the tight-knit community here. I’m very excited to start this role as an exercise science ambassador, and feel free if you have any questions about a student’s perspective as an exercise science major.
Megan Weber
I am currently a senior at the University of Buffalo majoring in exercise science and minoring in nutrition. I plan to further my education by applying to doctorate of physical therapy schools to begin in fall of 2023. I am very interested in pursuing a career in orthopedic or geriatrics physical therapy and incorporating my nutritional education into my career. I am extremely passionate about advocating for the physical therapy occupation as well. Throughout my experience at UB, shadowing opportunities, and extensive number of volunteer hours I have come to appreciate health and wellness even more and hope to adjust how health care is practiced.
Adriana Zieba Rosa
I am currently a senior majoring in Exercise Science with a minor in Public Health. After my undergraduate career, I plan on going on to graduate school to get a masters degree in Athletic Training. My ultimate goal is to work as an Athletic Trainer for a high school- or college-level sports team. I found my passion for the field through athletics, most specifically interacting with my Athletic Trainer from high school. I learned a lot from him and want to impact other students' lives, as he did mine. After working with the Women’s Volleyball team here at UB, I am confident in my career decision. I’m always happy to talk about my experiences here at UB whether that be within the ES department, campus involvements or anything other questions you may have. Feel free to reach out!