May 21, 2025 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu

A first-generation college student, Adrienne Parkinson calls her educational journey deeply personal and incredibly rewarding. With a long-time interest in disease prevention and management, she began her studies with a bachelor’s degree in environmental health at the University of Technology in Jamaica where she grew up.

After learning about various areas of public health during her program (e.g., food safety, pollution control, occupational health, disease prevention/management), she discovered an interest in epidemiology and began looking at graduate programs in the United States. USC’s Master of Public Health in Epidemiology program caught her attention due to its strong emphasis on community-based public health using a hands-on approach and USC’s standing as a top-tier research institution.

“Being part of the Arnold School has not only strengthened my public health knowledge and skills but also helped me find a sense of purpose and belonging,” Parkinson says. “I’m proud of how far I’ve come and excited to continue using what I’ve learned to improve health outcomes within communities.”

Parkinson spent the first year of her program working with the Arnold School’s Office of Undergraduate Services as a teaching assistant. When she transitioned to her second-year graduate assistantship with the Center for Applied Research and Evaluation (CARE), she didn’t realize she would stay with the team beyond her program.

She found mentors in the CARE team, who helped her better understand the intersection of public health research and practice, and the Office of Public Health Practice, where she enhanced her workforce readiness. In her program, Parkinson connected with faculty like Myriam Torres, Yanan Zhang, Monique Brown, Jihong Liu, and her advisor, Anwar Merchant.

“I feel very fortunate to have learned from all the faculty who have led my courses at the Arnold School,” Parkinson says. “Each has contributed to my growth in their own way, and their commitment and willingness to support students have made a lasting impression on me.”

With a passion for using data to guide the planning and design of health programs and evaluating the impact of public health interventions, Parkinson accepted a position as a researcher with CARE following her May graduation. She looks forward to identifying the facilitators and barriers to accessing care for vulnerable populations so she can improve health outcomes and advance health equity. Her long-term goal is to pursue a doctoral degree in the field, conducting research to enhance outcomes for low-resource communities.

“Navigating higher education in a new country came with its challenges, but it also fueled my determination to succeed and give back. I’m grateful to have been welcomed by South Carolina natives and fellow international students, who have made me feel a part of the community, expanded my worldview, and enriched my educational journey,” Parkinson says. “It’s surreal to look back and think of all the ways I have grown, both personally and professionally, throughout the last two years.”

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