Dean’s Ambassador Spotlights 2021

PHHP DEAN'S AMBASSADOR

Drishti More

Combination bachelor's and master's in public health

"I am excited to work with my fellow ambassadors, the faculty and dean’s office in making PHHP the most welcoming, supportive and hard-working environment it can be."

What is your degree program and hometown?
I am a second year student pursuing a combined Bachelor and Master of Public Health degree with a minor in Health Disparities in Society from Tampa, FL.

What are your career goals?
I plan on pursuing a PhD to further my Public Health education, and work in developing global health initiatives with the United Nations, USAID and other non-governmental organizations.

What excites you the most about being part of the dean’s ambassador program?
I am excited to work with my fellow ambassadors, the faculty and dean’s office in making PHHP the most welcoming, supportive and hard-working environment it can be.

How do you hope the dean’s ambassadors program will help you prepare for your career or education?
I believe that the connections I make within the dean’s ambassador program will open many doors for future opportunities within PHHP, provide mentors for my education & career aspirations, as well as lasting friendships with like-minded health conscious individuals.

What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of school and work?
Outside of school and work I enjoy singing as I am a Captain of UF’s South Asian music ensemble, Gator Awaaz, and upcycling old glass into artwork. I also love exploring new cities and trying their famous foods.

PHHP DEAN'S AMBASSADOR

Sami Haydu

Bachelor's in Public Health

"The College of Public Health and Health Professions is composed of so many knowledgeable and friendly people, and I am loving interacting with so many of them."

What is your degree program and hometown?
I am a third-year student studying Public Health with a minor in Disabilities in Society. I am from Weston, Florida.

What are your career goals?
In the future, I hope to become an Occupational Therapist specializing in helping individuals who are visually impaired. 

What excites you the most about being part of the dean’s ambassador program?
I am most excited about being part of the Dean’s Ambassador Program because it has afforded me the opportunity to meet fellow PHHP students, as well as faculty. The College of Public Health and Health Professions is composed of so many knowledgeable and friendly people, and I am loving interacting with so many of them.

How do you hope the dean’s ambassadors program will help you prepare for your career or education?
I hope the Dean’s Ambassadors Program will help prepare me for my future career by providing me with opportunities to interact with alumni of PHHP and the Occupational Therapy program. As an aspiring Occupational Therapist, I am excited to attend Occupational Therapy school in the future, and I love learning about other people’s experiences in these programs.

If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
​If I didn’t have to sleep, I would spend my time volunteering with animals. As the proud owner of three dogs, a cat, and most recently a purple beta fish, I am happiest when surrounded by my pets. I have been volunteering with a South Florida animal rescue since I was twelve, and I would love to be able to spend more time helping animals.

PHHP DEAN'S AMBASSADOR

Allie Cohen

Bachelor's in Communication Sciences and Disorders

"I hope that the dean's ambassadors program will provide me with opportunities to interact with alumni in my field of study. I am very interested in hearing about other people's experiences as graduate students and SLPs."

What is your degree program and hometown?
I am a third-year student studying Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Educational Studies. I am from New Rochelle, New York, but recently moved to Sarasota, Florida. 

What are your career goals?
I am an aspiring school Speech and Language Pathologist, hoping to work in an elementary school setting. I enjoy working with children, especially here in Gainesville. I volunteer with Kids Count, which is an after school program for students in the community. 

What excites you the most about being part of the dean’s ambassador program?
I am most excited to be immersed in the PHHP community through being a part of the dean’s ambassador program. There are so many college-wide events this semester that I am excited to attend and help facilitate, and am most looking forward to expanding my relationships with peers, faculty, and alumni at these events. 

How do you hope the dean’s ambassadors program will help you prepare for your career or education?
I hope that the dean’s ambassadors program will provide me with opportunities to interact with alumni in my field of study. I am very interested in hearing about other people’s experiences as graduate students and SLPs. 

What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of school and work?
Outside of school and work, I love spending time near the water. This can be anything from swimming at the pool, at the beach or even just walking along the marina. Good weather puts me in my best moods, and I always feel refreshed when spending time outside.

PHHP DEAN'S AMBASSADOR

Caroline Polansky

Bachelor's in Health Science

"I believe that there are a lot of valuable individuals I can meet who can present me with knowledge and advice on how to be a great applicant to medical school."

What is your degree program, year and hometown?
I am a fourth-year Health Science major and Health Disparities minor on the Pre-Med track. My
hometown is Chester County, Pennsylvania, which is a suburban county of Philadelphia.

What are your career goals?
Becoming a physician is definitely my career goal. Growing up, I was consistently drawn to
healthcare settings and was always asking my doctors questions in regards to their professions.
As an avid athlete and sports lover, sports medicine is where I have taken a particular interest in
and have spent several years shadowing the field.

What excites you the most about being part of the dean’s ambassador program?
The Dean’s Ambassador Program is an amazing opportunity and something I am extremely
privileged to be a part of. I am most excited to form connections between alumni and higher staff
within PHHP as well as volunteer at events specific to the college.

How do you hope the dean’s ambassadors program will help you prepare for your career
or education?

I hope that the Dean’s Ambassador Program will help me foster new connections that expand my
professional network. I believe that there are a lot of valuable individuals I can meet who can
present me with knowledge and advice on how to be a great applicant to medical school.

What was the destination of your favorite vacation?
One of my favorite vacations I went on was to Canada with my family. We saw the United States
Women’s National Team play in two matches of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup and I will
never forget the experiences of being in those stands. However, one of my favorite places I
regularly enjoy traveling to each summer is to the Jersey Shore, particularly spending time in
Ocean City, Sea Isle, and Avalon.

PHHP DEAN'S AMBASSADOR

Kerven Cassion

Bachelor's in Health Science

"I know  the Dean's Ambassador program will give me the necessary networks and skills to further my career goals."

What is your degree program, year and hometown?

I am currently a 4th year student at the University of Florida from West Palm Beach, FL. I am pursuing a Bachelor in Health Science with a minor in Health Disparities.

What are your career goals?

My career goals include becoming a doctor of internal or emergency medicine and working with Doctors Without Borders. Afterwards, I hope to open a health clinic in Haiti that also provides social services such as food security, education, and emergency relief.

What excites you the most about being part of the dean’s ambassador program?

I am most excited with the opportunity to develop myself professionally, and expand my social network through the Dean’s Ambassador program. I now have the opportunity to meet and learn from distinguished faculty, alumni, and donors. I know  the Dean’s Ambassador program will give me the necessary networks and skills to further my career goals.

What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of school and work?

I enjoy reading and dancing to Haitian Kompa music in my free time. I have recently developed a new hobby. In the next year, I hope to learn how to play the piano!

PHHP DEAN'S AMBASSADOR

Karen Awura-Adjoa Ronke Coker

Doctorate in Public Health, One Health concentration

"​I aspire to work with people and communities to foster healing and thriving environments."

What is your degree program and hometown?
I am currently a third-year PhD student in the department of environmental and global health with a concentration in One Health. I was recently awarded the TL1- NIH/NCATS fellowship through CTSI. The hometown questions are always a story as it’s a mixture of places and a multitude of lived experiences: Born in Houston, TX, grew up in Accra, Ghana, and Plainfield, IL, but currently call Saint Johns, FL home. 

What are your career goals?
I hope to become Dr. Coker, the first in my family, an advocate, good trouble maker, and researcher in the Climate Change and Health space for my community. ​I aspire to work with people and communities to foster healing and thriving environments. I want to be in a safe working environment with others to advocate and push for long-lasting change for persons who have and continue to be historically impacted by social and environmental shocks/injustice and the health disparities facilitated by legacies of systemic racism and colonialism. After completing this Ph.D. I aim to work with these communities in West Africa, the U.S, and throughout the world. Connecting with fellow scholars in building, writing, and making good trouble. I hope to combine my purpose of teaching and doing research that amplifies the voices and experiences of my community.

What attracted you to the dean’s ambassadors program?
As a Ph.D student, I wanted to learn and experience what our college was about and felt that this space would introduce me to the makeup of what our college offers outside of my department. I also knew I would get the opportunity to meet other students throughout the college, learn about their programs and experiences here in PHHP.

How do you hope the dean’s ambassadors program will help you prepare for your career or education?
I have been able to learn about the different aspects of the college outside of my department. I look forward to engaging with the other ambassadors and the interdisciplinary atmosphere here in the college. I look forward to connecting with the alumni, faculty, and administration.  

What was the destination of your favorite vacation?
My favorite destination was Rhodes, Greece. I really love history and my goal is to visit as many UNESCO sites as possible in my lifetime. Rhodes is one of the sites where the seven wonders of the ancient world stood. The Colossus of Rhodes to be exact. 

PHHP DEAN'S AMBASSADOR

Logan Foster

Bachelor's in Public Health

"PHHP is such a unique college full of individuals who inspire me with their stories, aspirations and push me to be the best version of myself."

What is your degree program, year and hometown?
Bachelor of Public Health and Land O’ Lakes, Florida. 

What are your career goals?
I hope in the future to attend medical school and to earn a combination of a MD/DO degree as well as an MPH. I aspire to work in community health as a primary care provider. 

What attracted you to the dean’s ambassador program?
The ability to grow both professionally and personally is what attracted me to apply to the Dean’s Ambassador program. I love the ability to be able to connect internally with members within our college such as faculty, students, etc. and externally with alumni and new incoming students. PHHP is such a unique college full of individuals who inspire me with their stories, aspirations and push me to be the best version of myself. Being able to represent this college as a Dean’s Ambassador is truly an honor and a fantastic opportunity. 

How do you hope the dean’s ambassadors program will help you prepare for your career?
My role as a Dean’s Ambassador will benefit me in many ways in the future. I believe this experience will help me to grow both personally and professionally while serving in this role. 

What was the destination of your favorite vacation?
Austin, Texas. Austin is full of such rich culture, incredible food and amazing people.

PHHP DEAN'S AMBASSADOR

Jeannine Lederman

Bachelor's in Communication Sciences and Disorders

"Being a dean’s ambassador allows me to look forward to meeting students with the same career goals as me and meeting the faculty as well."

What is your degree program, year and hometown?
I am a fourth-year Communication Sciences and Disorders major from Aventura, Florida.

What are your career goals?
My goal is to become a bilingual pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist!

What excites you the most about being part of the dean’s ambassador program?
Being a dean’s ambassador allows me to look forward to meeting students with the same career goals as me and meeting the faculty as well. Getting to know people in the college outside of the classroom is very important to me.

How do you hope the dean’s ambassadors program will help you prepare for your career or education?
I hope that I make connections and relationships that will help me grow and succeed as a student and future SLP.

What is a fun fact about you that people might be surprised to know?
A fun fact about me is that my name rhymes with my sisters’! Their names are Pearleen and Francine, and I am Jeannine!