Allison is in her first year of the two-year MCH program. She graduated with a Bachelor of Individualized Studies degree in Public Health, Spanish & Life Sciences from the University of Minnesota. She graduated from a Community Engagement Scholar because she recognized the importance of community engagement in her education and is particularly interested in working with vulnerable communities. Allison was first immersed in and then developed a passion for public health through an internship in Ecuador studying the integration of the Western and Traditional health systems. This past year she learned about the potential of integrating different therapies to develop a patient-centered approach through her work in two back pain studies at Northwestern Health Sciences University. She spent part of the summer learning how to farm organically and travel in the beautiful country of Colombia. She is excited to spend the next two years studying how to promote a healthier MCH population and explore the diverse Californian countryside.