SW New Mexico News

Ahmed Mohammed is no stranger to helping those in need. More than a decade ago, Mohammed, then a medical student in Egypt, regularly volunteered to aid refugees passing through the Libyan desert during his school breaks. For three years, two of which coincided with the Arab Spring, he drew on his skills and sense of compassion to help displaced individuals and families seeking medical attention.

Years later, Mohammed, who hails from Libya in North Africa, came to New Mexico State University (NMSU) to further his education in public health. "I worked with a lot of refugees and displaced people living in camps, which piqued my interest in public health and led me to NMSU," said Mohammed, who expects to earn a master’s degree in public health in December.

NMSU’s Department of Public Health Sciences, part of the College of Health, Education, and Social Transformation, established its Master of Public Health (MPH) program in 1996. Since then, the department has trained hundreds of students for careers as public health leaders, including a growing number of international students. Drawn to NMSU’s affordability, diversity and Southwestern landscape, students like Mohammed are turning to the MPH program – which ranks among the best graduate programs in the United States for 2024 according to U.S. News and World Report.

Over the past decade, the program has graduated 25 international students. Among students currently enrolled in the program, 10 came to NMSU from outside the United States. "International students have enriched our MPH program by bringing diverse perspectives, enhancing cultural competency and fostering global networks," said Joseph Tomaka, professor of public health and graduate program coordinator. "Their varied experiences and insights have contributed to a better understanding of global health issues and helped prepare all students for effective public health practice in an interconnected world."

The MPH program is structured to accommodate students from all backgrounds but is especially suited for working professionals seeking to complete a graduate degree on a flexible schedule. Its two concentrations – health behavior and health promotion or health management administration and policy – may be taken online or on-campus.

Rebecca Blay, a native of Ghana in West Africa, had long known she wanted to study at an international university for a career as a health promotion specialist. Her dream came true last summer.

While working as an administrator and nutritionist at a school operated by her parents, Blay began researching public health programs in the U.S. She reached out to several institutions and quickly established a connection with Tomaka – which made all the difference. "From the way the coordinator was communicating with me frequently I just knew NMSU would be a good fit for me," she said.

Blay started the program in August 2023; though she encountered some obstacles initially she quickly found supportive professors and peers eager to help her succeed. She opted to concentrate her studies on health behavior and health promotion which she believes will put her in the best position to achieve her career goals. "My concentration is very broad and entails a wide scope [of] public health," she said. "That means I’ll have more options when I graduate."

Last fall and spring Blay worked with her adviser Dejan Magoč delivering a STEM outreach program that teaches healthy lifestyles to elementary school students in Las Cruces. She said it was an enjoyable experience that allowed her to draw on her previous work as a school administrator while fulfilling an internship requirement.

"The pandemic has taught us that we need to think globally and act locally," said Jagdish Khubchandani online coordinator for the MPH program and professor of public health. "Our learning from each other’s cultures in the public health program is mutually beneficial for both students and our communities."

During spring 2023 semester Mohammed earned a scholarship and internship from Families & Youth Innovations Plus (FYI+), a community provider in Las Cruces that delivers affordable healthcare services particularly focusing on underserved populations.

During his time at FYI+, Mohammed worked with teams providing mental health counseling for uninsured unhoused individuals as well as those living under poverty conditions while also helping analyze data for New Mexico's guaranteed basic income project.

"FYI+ provided such [a] diverse learning environment," he said." I was able [to] put into practice what I learned from medical school [and] my public health classes at NMSU."

Although neither Mohammed nor Blay had been previously acquainted with New Mexico before arriving at NMSU’s Las Cruces campus they swiftly adapted finding similarities reminding them home." The community here reminds me [of] people [in] North Africa," stated Mohammed." They love being around family maintaining good social connections relatives friends."

Blay expecting graduation May 2025 hopes continuing education post-NMSU aiming Ph.D level pursuits describing application process one best decisions recent years." I'm very happy being [at] NMSU everything worked better imagined,” she concluded.

For more information about MPH programs visit nmsu.news/mph-program.

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