Spring 2025 Graduating Student Profile
Michaela Gonzales
BS in Public Health
Public Health Undergraduate Gains New Perspectives in Internship Roles
Michaela Gonzales graduated Summa Cum Laude with her BS in Public Health, with a concentration in Health Systems Theory & Practice, and a minor in Classics. Even with all the effort required for her outstanding academic achievements, Michaela still found time to volunteer for many public health service roles while she was a student. She won the Spring 2025 Public Health Service Award.
Michaela Gonzales
BS in Public Health with a concentration in Health Systems Theory & Practice, and a minor in Classics
Michaela Gonzales received her BS in Public Health degree with a concentration in Health Systems Theory & Practice, and a minor in Classics. During her time as a public health student, she served on the Ethics Committee at the Pima County Health Department, a valuable learning experience.
Further, Michaela volunteered at With You Tucson, a pregnancy center dedicated to providing resources and support to women facing unplanned pregnancies. She also volunteered with UCity Church to distribute food to those in need. At the university, she was a preceptor for the Public Health Narratives course, provided tutoring services for chemistry courses, and participated in Navigators, a campus ministry program designed to help mentor younger students to overcome personal hardship. Her internship in a research lab also provided valuable public health insights on her journey. Michaela won the Spring 2025 Public Health Service Award.
Congratulations Michaela!
For this profile, we asked Michaela about what shaped her undergraduate experience in the college.
Q: In addition to your classes, what projects or programs did you work on while earning your degree?
A: During undergraduate studies, I was fortunate to have opportunities to engage in both the research and policy side of public health. I was a processing sample intern for the Binational Early Asthma Microbiome Study (BEAMS) project where I analyzed dust and water samples from homes in South Tucson and Mexico to gather information on the connection between the microbiome and incidence of asthma in children.
I was also an intern with the Ethics Committee at the Pima County Health Department, where I did extensive background research and facilitated deliberations on ethical topics in public health, primarily related to the health department’s role in serving those experiencing homelessness.
Q: What inspired you about the projects or programs you worked on? What did you learn?
A: In both my internships, I learned about the value of collaboration. In the research lab, there were so many moving parts, from the field staff, administration, and collaborating researchers that were all working together to share resources and data to promote population health. The same was true at the health department. I had the opportunity to engage with stakeholders from many different organizations, and seeing how people came together to find creative solutions to homelessness was encouraging.
Q: How will your education and experience as a public health student influence your path forward?
A: My education in public health has allowed me to have a holistic picture of health that includes populations, systems, and trends as well as individual stories and experiences. By learning about the various levels of health determinants, and the public health approach targeting each of these areas with prevention and promotion, I feel uniquely equipped to serve people as I pursue a master’s in counseling. While counseling has a more individual focus, I am confident that I can maintain a public health perspective and work to increase access and promote mentally and physically healthy communities.