Our inaugural cohort of Public Health & Society Ambassadors are knowledgeable and passionate undergraduate and graduate students with an academic interest in public health and a desire to support and shape the Public Health & Society program and its curriculum. Through their work with the broader campus community, Ambassadors will gather broader student insights on public health, develop engaging events and content, and share their passion and enthusiasm for the field with potential students.

Meet the Cohort 

Temidire Akinwuntan 
Senior; Overland Park, Kan.
Temi is majoring in anthropology: global health and environment and is pursuing minors in psychological and brain sciences, and biology. She is interested in how culture and environment intersect with health experiences for communities around the world. She has explored these interests by studying abroad in London, serving on the Global Health Student Advisory Committee, and participating in the Community Health Scholars Program, whose mission is to support patients of all ages with consideration of aging processes, human development stages, and culture. After achieving her bachelor’s degree, Temi plans to pursue an MPH before attending medical school to expand her background in health education and advocacy.
 

Sophia Black 
Sophomore; St. Charles, Mo.
Sophia is majoring in psychological and brain sciences and plans to add a dual major in public health and society. Her interest in psychology and how the physical environments of communities affect child outcomes led her to public health. She wants to merge psychology research and public health policy work and focus on the mental and physical well-being of people living in metropolitan communities. In addition to her work as an Ambassador, she works in two research labs focusing on Black and Latina girls, and she’s a member of Phi Gamma Nu. For fun, she likes to crochet.
 

Julianna Cool
Freshman; Madison, Wis.
Julianna is a freshman who plans to major in public health and society. In her home state of Wisconsin, she worked as a nursing assistant which inspired her to continue a path to a career in health. Outside of her role as an Ambassador, Julianna enjoys singing in the WashU Concert Choir and playing clarinet in the Bear Nation Varsity Band. She is incredibly excited for her future at WashU.
 

Maya Davis
Sophomore; McLean, Va.
Maya is a student in the College of Arts and Sciences planning to major in public health and society and minor in either political science or data science in the humanities. Her interest in public health stems from a deep interest in community health from the lens of multiple academic disciplines and a desire to help tackle widespread societal health disparities. Specifically, she’s interested in public mental health, nutrition, education, and childcare, particularly within historically marginalized communities. Outside of her role as an Ambassador, she runs on the varsity track team and enjoys art, music, and spending time with friends.
 

Feven Gebrekidan
MBA/MPH student; Ethiopia
Feven is in her second year of a joint MBA/MPH degree, with a public health concentration in epidemiology and biostatistics. Before coming to WashU, she worked as a physician at a COVID-19 isolation and treatment center for two years. Feven chose to pursue public health because she is passionate about making a difference at the population level. Working in a hospital made her realize that while treating individual patients is important, addressing broader health challenges requires preventative measures, community interventions, and research-driven solutions. As an Ambassador, she looks forward to connecting with like-minded individuals, sharing experiences, and contributing to the ongoing efforts to improve healthcare access and quality.
 

Mia Kouveliotes
Junior: Howell, N.J.
Mia is majoring in anthropology: global health and environment and is pursuing dual minors in psychological and brain sciences, as well as public health and society. She is interested in mental health stigma, psychiatric quality of care assurance, and mental health crisis management. In the future, she hopes to obtain her MPH and PhD and work in the analysis and implementation of mental health services, law, and policy. In her free time, Mia enjoys directing theater, writing, community service, thrifting, and playing with her cats. She is excited to be joining the Public Health & Society Ambassador Program.
 

Parth Oza 
Sophomore; Carpentersville, Ill. 
Parth is on the pre-medical track, studying neuroscience with a minor in public health and society. He is interested in learning about disease prevention and broader population health, hoping to gain diverse perspectives through the public health curriculum at WashU to apply in his career as a physician. Outside of his studies, he is involved with Campus Y, clinical volunteering, medical campus research and volunteering to help the underserved. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing basketball and weightlifting, and exploring St. Louis.  
 

Danielle Sarraf
MBA/MPH student; Los Angeles, Calif.
Danielle is pursuing a master’s degrees in both business administration and public health. Danielle graduated magna cum laude from WashU in 2022, earning double majors in anthropology: global health and environment; and women, gender, and sexuality studies, with a minor in healthcare management. She has more than two years of experience as a research manager at the Brown School, working with faculty members Lindsay Stark and Ilana Seff. In this role, she supports research studies and grants focused on the health and psychosocial well-being of marginalized populations, including survivors of gender-based violence and adolescent refugees. In the future, she hopes to leverage her joint graduate degrees to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare and public health sectors, bringing a unique interdisciplinary and global perspective. In her free time, Danielle enjoys skiing, cooking, and vintage shopping.
 

Ketan Tamirisa
Freshman: Dallas, Texas
Ketan is majoring in anthropology: global health and environment and is a proud member of the four-year Medicine & Society Program. His interests lie in public health, global health disparities, and clinical medicine. Ketan is honored to be an Ambassador and looks forward to collaborating with like-minded peers to shape the future of public health education at WashU and beyond.
 

Maya Tharoo 
Junior; Orlando, Fla. 
Maya’s passion for public health and medicine was informed by her own premature birth, time spent volunteering in the NICU, and public speaking about her experiences. She is majoring in anthropology: global health and environment and is passionate about focusing on health disparities and improving health literacy and outcomes for maternal and infant populations. On campus, Maya is involved in research and extracurriculars that promote the health of these communities. Outside the classroom, she can be found by the water, reading, or dancing. Maya is thrilled to be part of the first cohort of Ambassadors and grow alongside the program.