AmeriCorps Member, FocusFirst National Team Lead
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2020, Laurel Holmes graduated summa cum laude from The University of Alabama, where she majored in Public Health. Following this, she moved to Washington, D.C. where she earned her Master of Public Health degree from the George Washington University in 2022. No matter where she has lived, Laurel has been actively engaged in her community, volunteering with Al’s Pals Mentorship Program and the Urban Health Program. After serving with Impact America, she hopes to continue to work as a public health practitioner focusing on rural and community health promotion programs.
Questions:
What was your most meaningful service experience or extracurricular activity in college and why?
One summer as an undergraduate, I participated in a service-learning opportunity during which I traveled to San Jose, Costa Rica and served as a volunteer in community health clinics providing no-cost services to local residents. Here, my passion for community health promotion and health education were ignited.
Who is someone you admire and why?
I admire one of my undergraduate professors, Dr. David A. Birch. As a sophomore new to the Public Health major, it was in his Principles and Foundation of Health Promotion that I found inspiration from the past-president of the American Association for Health Education and my calling to make an impact for the health of Alabama communities. With Dr. Birch’s guidance and encouragement, I chose to pursue a Master of Public Health to further my abilities to make a difference as a public health practitioner.
What do you like to do for fun?
In my freetime, I like to expand my baking skills by practicing new recipes and enjoy quiet time on my back porch with a good book. Recently, I made ladyfingers and tiramisu from scratch to celebrate my fiance’s birthday!