Mariel Amador, Public Health & Society and Sociology double major

recorded Friday, March 20, 2026

What made you want to be a student ambassador?

I was someone who really didn't know what they wanted to do when they came into college. I took the Foundations in Public Health class and I really liked it. And then I just kept getting more involved in public health. My friends knew that I was taking public health classes and they would ask me questions about it. And I knew I knew some stuff, but not everything. And I just thought it'd be so cool to actually get to learn more.

What's been your favorite class so far?

I really liked Global Health. That's been really fun because I think we tend to learn a lot about US policy or US health practices. 

Also being in Professor Richardson's Food Policy class has been amazing because I'm someone who cares a lot about what people have access to and what sort of laws go into that.

What's one thing you think everyone should know about public health?

It's more than just a major for people who want to go to med school. I'm someone who's interested in health care, but I don't want to go to medical school. Public health is related to is related to everything. It's not just what vaccines you have access to, or your doctor. It's more than just that.

What are you looking forward to?

I'm very excited to do my public health program when I go abroad. I'm going to Copenhagen through DIS. And since it's in Denmark, it's talking a lot about European policies, which I think will be really interesting. I also am excited to do APEX when I come back for my senior year.

Learn more about the Public Health & Society Student Ambassador program.