Lauren Nelson

Lauren Nelson (08) graduated from PLNU with more than a degree in math; she graduated with a concern for health disparities and a strong desire to use her analytical skills to help people. Under the guidance of Drs. Maria Zack and Greg Crow, she participated in PLNU’s honors program, analyzing health data from sub-Saharan Africa using data from the World Health Organization.

Interested in finding a career that would combine her love of numbers with her passion for helping others, Nelson began to consider epidemiology, a field that studies how and why diseases spread within certain populations. After earning a Master of Public Health in epidemiology from Emory University in 2013, Nelson was offered her current position, a fellowship with the environmental health investigations branch of the California Department of Public Health. Her work investigates how health issues, such as developmental disabilities and cancer, are influenced by environmental factors like chemicals, pollutants, air quality, and exposure to secondhand smoke.

“I have found a place where I feel I’m contributing to the betterment of society,” she said. “I have a purpose and am part of solving problems that have a big impact on people. Even though I haven’t been in the field long enough to see the final outcomes of the projects I’m working on, I know that eventually I will see the results of my work and how it impacts communities, and that will be incredibly rewarding.”

Nelson’s fellowship ends in August, and while she is considering opportunities within other branches of the state health department and various California county health departments, she would ultimately like to stay on as a full-time employee with her current branch. Regardless of where she ends up, she is confident the skills, drive, and heart for people she developed as a student at PLNU will serve her well as she seeks to serve those around her.