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Hi! My name is Madalein Amoako (she/her), and I recently graduated magna cum laude from ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ with a B.A. in Public Health and Public Policy with a minor in Criminal Justice. After graduation, I joined the City of Burlington’s Economic Development Department as an ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Year of Service Fellow.
I was fortunate to be an Odyssey Scholar, which shaped so much of my time at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ. Throughout my four years, I was deeply involved on campus and held several meaningful roles. I worked in multiple on-campus jobs, including positions that allowed me to support fellow students, engage with faculty and staff, and contribute to the campus community in different ways.

I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad through the Semester at Sea program, traveling to 10 countries across 3 continents. This journey introduced me to people living completely different lives from mine, and listening to their stories expanded my worldview. It challenged my assumptions, pushed me to grow, and ultimately strengthened my passion for policy and global public health. Each place I visited added a new chapter to how I understand the world and myself.

One of the most impactful experiences I had was completing my practicum at the Alamance County Health Department with the Pretrial and Recovery Court program. I helped create clearer methods for addressing pretrial violations and organizing program procedures. Through this work, I gained a much deeper understanding of how public health, bail policy, and the judicial system intersect and how they shape people’s lives before and during court proceedings.

Through my practicum, I was introduced to Sam Hinton, who played a huge role in my interest in the fellows program. Although I was unsure of what I wanted to do post-grad, I saw firsthand how many amazing things were happening in Alamance County and knew that I wanted to be a part of it.

My name is Lily Andresen-Simmons (they/them), and I am from Hendersonville, NC. In 2026, I graduated summa cum laude from ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ with a Bachelors in Policy Studies and Anthropology. I’m now serving as the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Year of Service Fellow at Impact Alamance under the For Alamance Initiative.

During my time at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ, I worked as a Resident Assistant, Apartment Manager, and Campus Tour Guide, and I was involved in Students for Peace and Justice, as well as WSOE. These roles allowed me to collaborate with and lead my peers, building a lifelong community. I was also honored to be inducted into multiple national honor societies for my academic achievement.

I had the incredible opportunity to study abroad my junior year in Sorrento, Italy, which allowed me to grow and settle into myself as a confident and unique individual. My travels and the people I met reminded me of our shared humanity and history, and how I should greet each new person and experience with humility and an open heart.

My passion for this work stemmed out of both my studies and experiences. I focused on poverty and social policy, eventually completing research on equitable housing policy and the racial home ownership gap. I interned with the City of Mebane through the Campus Alamance program, and revised a policy for the City of Burlington through my senior capstone course. Each of these experiences affirmed my deeply held values of community, fairness and equity, compassion, and service, leading me to the realm of nonprofit community-centered work.

I am overjoyed for the chance to grow these values and skills in a dynamic and unique community like Alamance County and give back to the area that supported me through my undergraduate experience.

Hello! My name is Emily Mallard (she/her), and I recently graduated magna cum laude from ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health and minors in Biology and Psychology. I currently serve as the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Year of Service Fellow working with Impact Alamance’s Smarter Initiative, supporting collaborative initiatives working to advance educational equity and early childhood development in Alamance County.

During my time at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ, I completed forty public health service hours in Alamance County, which included shadowing staff at the Alamance County Health Department, attending community panels on pressing health issues, and observing Alamance-Burlington School System board meetings. I also worked as a Graphic Designer at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ’s Center for Design Thinking, where I helped design, write, and edit Storybook: Voices of Alamance County, a publication that shares the stories of community leaders across Alamance County. Through these experiences, I developed a deep appreciation for the people of Alamance County and a strong commitment to advancing initiatives that promote a healthier and more equitable community for all.

One of the most impactful experiences of my time at ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ was studying abroad in Jamkhed, India for my Public Health Practicum course. Here, I had the opportunity to learn about the Comprehensive Rural Health Project, an organization that improves health outcomes for poor and marginalized rural populations through a community-based approach, and to observe its work firsthand. This experience deepened my commitment to serving underserved populations through efforts that address social injustices and empower individuals and communities to play an active role in their own health.

All of these experiences have shaped the way I understand public health and public health initiatives. Public health is not simply about ensuring access to care; it is about empowering individuals and communities with the skills, knowledge, resources, and support they need to lead healthy lives. It also requires building trust within communities and engaging community members as active partners in initiatives that directly affect their well-being. I am excited to continue building these connections and making a positive impact in Alamance County with Impact Alamance!

My name is Clare Petznick and I graduated from ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree. I majored in Psychology with minors in Neuroscience and Chemistry. I was a pre-health scholar and a part of the ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ Odyssey Program. I am originally from Omaha, Nebraska.

Over my four years, I was an active member in the Odyssey Program, serving as a mentor during my sophomore and junior years and promoted to lead mentor in my senior year. I worked closely with the program, gaining valuable insight on leadership, advocacy, and community. Through this scholarship program I was also able to study abroad in Barcelona, Spain and had the opportunity to visit other European countries.

Additionally, I worked with Dr. Maureen Vandermaas-Peeler for three years on child development research. We explored the Nordic concept of “the good childhood” and the project allowed me to build relationships with three preschools. We are working towards publication this coming year. During my last semester, I worked as an ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ 1010 peer educator alongside Dr. Antonio Izzo and we mentored pre-health first-year students.

Outside of ÂÒÂ×ÊÓƵ, I worked as a nursing assistant at a local hospital in my hometown. At the hospital I worked with a healthcare team on the pre-and post-operative care floor. I had the opportunity to float on the other floors in the hospital, including the intensive care unit, emergency room, and cardiovascular unit.

These experiences have fueled my passion for community engagement, and I look forward to serving Alamance County at Alamance Regional through Cone Health. I hope to gain valuable insight into the healthcare system and learn from local communities. I believe this opportunity will make me a more communicative and compassionate physician in the future.