Ariea Alexander was among the few students selected for Texas Public Health Fellowship
Ariea Alexander is a senior, graduating in May with a bachelor's degree in Counseling and Addiction Recovery Sciences (CARS). Alexander represents the CARS program as the 2023 Outstanding Senior Award winner. This is awarded to one student in each program who has risen to the top of their program and embodies the mission of the College of Human Sciences. She has recently been selected for the Texas Public Health Fellowship starting in June.
The Texas Public Health Fellowship is an apprenticeship program sponsored by the Texas Department of State Health Services. This program provides firsthand experience and professional development for new and inspiring public health professionals. There are only 36 fellowships covering various public health specializations, including epidemiology, social and behavioral sciences, and biostatistics. Alexander will specifically be specializing in social and behavioral sciences for her fellowship.
"I will be working in the health promotion division for a program called LBK Community," Alexander said. "LBK Community is a network of medical and social services providers that aid in diminishing health disparities in Lubbock by supplying linkages to care for underserved residents. My job will entail assisting providers with onboarding and navigating the LBK Community platform and working with residents to connect them to services."
The Counseling and Addiction Recovery Sciences program is highly comprehensive and trains its students in case management, andragogy, and organizational leadership. These skills are all skills that Alexander will be using during her fellowship as well as in her future workplace. She shares how the diversity of the people and material in the program has given her a positive learning experience.
"What I like most about being in the CARS program is that it's exceptionally diverse," Alexander said. "You are in the classroom with people from all walks of life, enhancing your learning experience and challenging you to view the world outside your perspective."
Post-graduation and post-fellowship, Alexander plans to continue to serve her community by using the knowledge, skills, and connections she has made from the CARS program to further her career in public health. The CARS program prepares students for a variety of career paths. Students like Alexander will be able to use their skills to make a difference in the lives of the people they serve.