Graduate Spotlight: Public Health Graduates Reflect and Look Ahead
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As Old Dominion University celebrates its Class of 2025, three graduating students from the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) program stand out for their academic achievements and the passion, purpose and perseverance they’ve brought to their public health journeys.
Brianna Marshall, Erin Videll and Lakshya Enugu (pictured above with Videll's son, Lincoln, 5) each entered graduate school from a different starting point. Through their time in the M.P.H. program, their paths have converged in a shared vision: to create healthier communities through research, outreach and engagement.
All three students will participate on May 17 in the Class of 2025 Advanced Degree Ceremony for Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School and EVMS School of Health Professions at Old Dominion University.
Their time in the EVMS School of Health Professions at ODU also coincided with the historic establishment of the Joint School of Public Health, an innovative partnership with Norfolk State University and only the third school of its kind in the United States.
Graduation is just the next exciting step for graduates, said Dr. Li-Wu Chen, founding dean and professor in the Joint School of Public Health.
“Whether it’s through research, data science or community outreach, each of these graduates exemplifies important values of the public health field and the Joint School of Public Health: tackling complex health challenges and supporting community health through hands-on collaboration and innovation,” Dean Chen said. “While their paths forward may diverge, one thing is certain — their impact on public health is just beginning.”
Brianna Marshall: A Voice for Community Empowerment
For Brianna Marshall, public health is more than a career — it’s a mission.
Her journey began at Virginia State University, where she studied biology and took part in the Data Science for the Public Good program, which exposed her to real-world research and the health gaps that exist among communities.
“I started to understand how social determinants impact everything,” she recalled. “That’s when I knew I wanted to get my M.P.H. and really make a difference.”
During her graduate studies, Marshall built on that foundation through coursework, community-based projects and research.
As a program assistant, she supported adolescent health initiatives with faculty members such as Tracy Fu, Ph.D., associate professor of Pediatrics, and Amy Paulson, M.P.H., director of CINCH, a community-based coalition housed within Community Health & Research and Pediatrics.
Marshall also presented at the 2024 American Public Health Association conference — a highlight of her graduate experience.
“It’s been such a tight-knit environment,” she says. “That support has been so important, especially balancing work and school. You really lean on your classmates.”
This fall, Marshall will begin a Ph.D. in Epidemiology at Virginia Commonwealth University, studying social determinants of health and health equity.
“I’m excited and grateful,” she said. “This journey has been about finding my voice and using it to for those who are often unheard.”
For incoming students, Marshall offered this advice: “Reach out,” she said. “Make those connections. There are so many people willing to help you grow — you just have to take that first step.”
Erin Videll: From Navy Leadership to Community Health Champion
For Erin Videll, public health began as a personal calling during her seven years in the U.S. Navy.
While serving, she discovered a deep interest in the connection between nutrition and mental health — an interest that would eventually shape her academic and professional focus.
“Toward the end of my Navy career, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia,” she shared. “That experience made me even more passionate about understanding how lifestyle and mental health are interrelated.”
In graduate school, Videll found the community of fellow students, faculty members, mentors and future colleagues she craved.
“Coming from the military, you really want that sense of community,” she said. “It started at orientation — four of us clicked right away and supported each other all the way through.”
As an M.P.H. student specializing in Epidemiology, Videll immersed herself in hands-on learning experiences.
At her practicum site with the EVMS Strelitz Diabetes Center — part of Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at ODU — she supported a nutrition lifestyle intervention study, managing data collection and patient screening. She also supported “Visual Conversations,” a community education initiative through the Counseling & Art Therapy master’s program in the EVMS School of Health Professions that focuses on topics such as gun violence and resilience.
Balancing academics, research and family life — including raising a five-year-old son — has been no small feat. She credits her support network of faculty, classmates, and family for helping her thrive.
“A master’s program is no joke,” Videll said. “You need people around you who are rooting for your success.”
As she looks ahead to completing her certificate in Applied Data Science and pursuing research roles in mental health and community resilience, Videll said she hopes to be a voice for populations often overlooked. “
“The goal is to keep building connections and making change,” she said. “That’s what this program gave me — the tools and the people to get to work.”
Lakshya Enugu: Bridging Clinical Research and Public Health Innovation
Lakshya Enugu has always been a natural researcher, guided by lifelong curiosity.
"A pivotal research year during the COVID-19 pandemic really opened my eyes to the potential of research and public health,” she said.
A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Enugu is now earning her M.P.H. in Epidemiology, along with a graduate certificate in Applied Data Science.
By day, she works as a clinical research coordinator at Eastern Virginia Medical School at ODU, contributing to studies on topics that include pediatric Down syndrome and sleep research.
“I like that I get to work closely with patients and see how research directly connects to care,” she explained.
Her passion for helping patients with Alzheimer’s disease — first sparked in high school —continues to drive her aspirations.
“I’ve always had this inner pull toward neurodegenerative research,” she said. “I want to be part of solutions that are data-driven and people-centered.”
For Enugu, the hybrid nature of the M.P.H. program was key to her success.
“Being able to work full-time and still take evening classes was a game-changer,” she said. “And our cohort is small and close — we’ve really become a little family and have made many memories together outside of the classroom as well.”
Looking ahead, Enugu plans to continue her clinical research while exploring doctoral programs that allow her to expand her expertise in neuroepidemiology.
“My family instilled in me to never stop learning, to follow my passions and to build a career doing something that truly makes me happy,” she said. “This program made it possible to keep that dream alive.”