Alumni Spotlight: Rosario Aranda-Borders - Aspiring public health professor

by Jessica Degnan  |   

Rosario Aranda-Borders smiling
Division of Population Health Sciences Alumna, Rosario Aranda-Borders smiles in front of a scenic backdrop. (Photo by Judy Vu)

Rosario Aranda-Borders, an alumna of UAA’s Division of Population Health Sciences, reflects on her time at UAA, offering advice and sharing her future goals as she pursues a Master of Public Health.

Name: Rosario Aranda-Borders

Educational background: Bachelors of Science in Health Science, UAA (2019) Masters of Public Health with a concentration in Epidemiology (In progress) from the University of Alabama at Birmingham

Hometown: Anchorage, AK

Place of employment: Previous employment-RurALCAP/SCAHEC - Americorps Member

Job title: Student Success Specialist- Americorps member

What was your personal and/or professional journey that led you to your current career?:

I always knew I wanted to be in the healthcare field. Most of the family on my mom's side is in the healthcare field, one way or another. When I started at UAA, I knew I wanted to follow in my family's footsteps and go into the health field. In my junior year at UAA, I took an Intro to Epidemiology course that opened my eyes to a whole new world known as Epidemiology, a field of public health. After taking this and one statistics course in my senior year, I applied for a master's in public health with a concentration in epidemiology. My passion for public health, having great professors, and living in such a unique state that has fantastic connections within the public health field have led me to want to pursue a career in Public Health/science.

What advice do you have for current students who want to make the most out of their experience at UAA and are looking to build a successful career in healthcare?:

The best advice I could give another college student would be to attend office hours with your professors. It provides the student with a chance to ask questions about the material, but it also allows the student to make a meaningful connection with the instructor. I would also advise to take advantage of any internships that are offered, to help build your resume.

What are your future goals and aspirations, and how do you plan to use your education and experience to achieve them?:

My future aspiration is to stay in the public health/health field. My ultimate goal is to receive a doctorate and be a professor one day. My degree at UAA in health sciences and my pending Master of Public Health have created a great foundation to pursue anything further.

How has being a graduate of UAA impacted your life, and what advice would you give to others considering pursuing a degree from this College of Health?:

UAA has such great connections with nonprofits and companies all over Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ. One way that UAA has impacted my life was how I came to find my practicum placement for my Master's. I am finishing the last semester of my Masters of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham online, and one of the requirements is to complete a practicum of 180 hours over a semester. I was still determining where to complete my internship; I knew I wanted to finish it in Â鶹ÎÞÂë°æ. One of my classmates, whom I attended UAA, helped me to do my practicum at The Arc of Anchorage. UAA created connections for me that were more than just with the professors but other students and professional connections.

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