Student Spotlight: Ashley Meehan
Meet Ashley Meehan
Ashley Meehan—a student in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society’s PhD in Social and Behavioral Sciences program—reflects on discovering her interest in public health, pursuing doctoral training following her career with the CDC, and building her sense of community during her time in Baltimore.
Program: PhD in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Entry year: 2022
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Fun fact: “I love high adventure activities. I used to work as a rock climbing, zip line, and high ropes course guide!”
Hometown: Metro Detroit, Michigan
What sparked your interest in public health?
Before I was born and before current antiretroviral therapies were available, my uncle died from complications due to AIDS. Growing up, my mom was always very open and honest about his life and his experiences. One of the things that stuck with me about the stories I heard was stigma: from the public, landlords and housing authorities, employers, religious communities, and from families and friends. It took a while for this to come into the foreground of my life, but it did shape my path, even in the background!
I've always loved math and science and was fortunate to discover my interest in health and disease in high school through Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA). During my first year of college, my course series in critical thinking taught me how to ask better questions and apply critical thinking skills to some of the big ‘-isms’ of our world—like capitalism, communism, feminism, humanism, Darwinism, environmentalism, and some of the major world religions. I didn't know it at the time, but that learning really was the catalyst for my entry into public health. I remember feeling so frustrated that the systems and structures in our world, and the people and institutions leading or shaping those systems and structures, were only designed and intended to benefit a small few.
As I was working on my honors thesis, I was so fortunate to have a project advisor who asked me what I cared about and actually listened. He had an MD, DrPH, MPH, and an MBA (I'm still impressed by that!), so I trusted that when he recommended I consider public health, I should listen. During that time, I was taking some of my first public health courses—research methods, program evaluation, community health, HIV and AIDS, and a class on STIs—and really fell in love with what I was learning. I also had experiences in Guatemala and Uganda that helped me re-imagine community care and the role of religion and faith-based institutions in public health.
These experiences led me to Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, where I completed my MPH in global health, with a concentration in community health and development and a joint certificate in religion and health from Emory's Candler School of Theology.
What led you to join the Department of Health, Behavior and Society?
Ultimately, it came down to methods training and the people. After I finished my MPH, I joined CDC's Division of Violence Prevention, evaluating two state cooperative agreements focused on preventing child abuse and neglect and other adverse childhood experiences. This role taught me a few key things. First, I wanted my future role(s) to include more research than programmatic work. Second, theory-driven programs are the exception but should be the norm. Lastly, more public health efforts needed to move further upstream.
Then the COVID-19 pandemic started. And my career trajectory was propelled at rapid speed and in a new direction: homelessness. In early 2020, I was deployed to CDC's COVID-19 emergency response on a new homelessness unit. Immediately, the lack of complete, timely, and accurate data about the health of people experiencing homelessness became one of our biggest challenges. I was thrown headfirst into the deep end of data. After seeing how ill-equipped to track social determinants such as housing or homelessness status our federal, state, and local public health agencies and data systems were, I knew there had to be a better way forward and wanted to be a part of that solution.
I had an amazing supervisor and mentor who let me take the lead on our qualitative portfolio while coaching me through quantitative analyses. She also made sure I would have opportunities to stretch my skills and learn new things—like deploying to local health departments to help with COVID efforts in homeless shelters—and other emergency response efforts.
I also noticed I had reached a plateau in what I knew how to do. I had so many questions and ideas, but needed a lot of help operationalizing those ideas and didn’t have the robust quantitative skills necessary to do the work I wanted to do. My supervisor encouraged me to consider applying to PhD programs, so I started my search for a school and program where I could get multi-disciplinary training in qualitative and quantitative social science methods that prioritized theory and structural solutions. I applied to programs in multiple disciplines (including programs in sociology and social work) but ultimately felt that I liked being in a public health training environment.
I was fortunate to interview for HBS with Carl Latkin, PhD, who really helped sell HBS for me. He was honest and kind and made very clear that pushing against the status quo was his ethos. I knew I had someone who could potentially be a mentor with a shared approach to the world. When I was accepted and met with my assigned advisor, Amy Knowlton, ScD, I knew I’d be supported as a person here. Amy reminded me of one of my most treasured mentors at Emory, and it felt right! I met another PhD student, Catherine Clair, when I attended one of the accepted student events. Her path to HBS sounded a lot like mine in terms of work experience and desire for learning, and after chatting with her, I knew there were also students like me who were thriving in the program, and I could envision that I would too.
What’s an academic highlight you've experienced during your time as an HBS student?
The highlight that comes to mind is fourth term in year one: taking biostatistics four and advanced quantitative methods in social and behavioral sciences. Those two classes allowed me to apply methods to a project and dataset of my choosing. The application aspect of learning is always the most rewarding because I can see where I might have remaining gaps in my understanding and allows me to learn how to actually do something rather than just talk about it! Plus, putting the methods in context of my topic area of interest made it even more exciting and tangible. I was able to turn the analysis I did for biostats four into a manuscript.
What’s a research or practice highlight you've experienced during your time as an HBS student?
I have been so lucky to work with National Health Care for the Homeless Council on their homeless mortality portfolio for my required research hours. My network of colleagues and mentors has grown exponentially, and everyone has lifted me onto their shoulders in ways I never could have imagined. I have been able to speak with reporters and share about our work with the media, present at both research and advocacy conferences, and write manuscripts.
I wrote a grant proposal and was funded by CDC Foundation to conduct a multi-methods nationwide landscape assessment of public health and homelessness activities and capacity. This work was a perfect complement to the work I was doing at CDC before coming to Hopkins, but I had a lot more freedom and flexibility. I feel like these projects and highlights have ‘kept my feet in the real world.’ It’s easy to get swept up into academia and theory and research, but keeping advocacy and public health practice a core theme of my projects has helped me stay focused on my goals.
How have you built your sense of community during your time as an HBS student?
Honestly, this has been really hard. The first year at Hopkins was so intense, and I had a lot going on personally at that time. I leaned on my cohort a lot the first year. I also was so lucky to have been assigned to an epidemiology methods lab group in year one with two incredible people who have become some of my most cherished friends! Summer after first year, I joined a kickball team (and eventually a volleyball team and a pickleball team) in Baltimore and my community multiplied.
The friends and the friends of friends that I’ve met in Baltimore are truly some of the best people! When my dad died right at the start of second year, this community (my cohort, other friends at school, friends from sports, and friends of friends) all rallied around me and supported me in emotional and material ways. I’ve also found that a willingness to be open and vulnerable with my advisor and other faculty has helped the community feel more like my own.
Outside of public health, what are some of your hobbies, interests, and personal passions?
Honestly, I love the work I do so much that even in my limited free time, I find myself reading about housing issues and exploring datasets. But outside of that, I love reading, music, and plants! I have loved living so close to the Enoch Pratt Library Central Branch. I’ve gone to so many author talks and book events! I also love going to listen to live music and spending time caring for my plants. I used to have quite the garden before I moved to Baltimore, and it’s pared down quite a bit in my current apartment, but still helps center me!
What are some of your favorite places in Baltimore?
The Rawlings Conservatory, the Enoch Pratt Library, Red Emma’s, and Pitango Cafe come to mind immediately. My friends and I also really enjoy the local breweries and beer.
What advice do you have for prospective students interested in joining the HBS community?
Trust the process. By the time you’re applying to PhD programs, you’re probably well qualified. Everyone applying to PhD programs, especially Hopkins and HBS, is incredibly bright. As I was applying to schools, I reminded myself that if I didn’t get in, I should trust that the program felt it wasn’t the right fit or the right time for me, and that it wasn’t necessarily a reflection of my capabilities and qualifications. You’re interviewing these schools just as much as they are interviewing you! Don’t settle, and be clear about what you want to gain.
Don’t let anyone dim your light, and don’t force yourself to be someone you aren’t. We all have our strengths and unique skills and experiences that make us who we are. Lean into those and own them! Everyone also has goals and life plans that may not be the same as yours, so paths to and through a PhD program likely won’t and shouldn’t look the same for everyone!
Do things scared, and don’t be afraid to be selfish and demand what you need. It can feel awkward or weird or scary to cold email people or put yourself out there, but doing things anyways even when I feel scared or uncertain has brought me some of the best rewards and opportunities. Also, I’ve found it helpful to have come in with specific learning goals and objectives set for myself. That’s allowed me to stay focused on my path.
Be kind and gentle to yourself. School should never be your top priority, no matter how much anyone else makes you think it should be. Being present with and caring for yourself and the people you love is more important than any class or project.
This interview has been edited and compressed. Views expressed are the subject's own.