Commencement

Dara Gleeson got a wide range of hands-on learning opportunities at Hofstra – even before she was a student.

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“I had several great experiences at Hofstra when I was in high school. I conducted microbiology research in Dr. Javier Izquierdo’s lab and presented my work at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair,” Dara said. “I also attended a summer creative writing class and participated in the Model United Nations conference. So, I was really excited about the possibilities that I knew would be waiting for me once I enrolled.”

As a Hofstra student, she completed three internships with community health organizations and conducted research alongside her professors, working to improve maternal, child, and family health inequalities. She also continued her involvement in the Model UN conference, ultimately serving as secretary-general at the conference during her final two years at Hofstra. After graduation, she took a year off due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will start graduate school at the Yale School of Public Health this fall.

Over the past year, Dara has worked as a communications intern at the United Nations and served as a youth health educator with a nonprofit in Baltimore, teaching public school children about good nutrition habits in virtual classes. She also works for the National Association of County and City Health Officials, which supports local health departments across the country.

“It has been so meaningful to work at organizations that support the work of public health leaders and workers, especially during a pandemic,” Dara said. “I have been very fortunate to have all of these experiences that I can do remotely. I’ve gained valuable insights and skills that I can apply when I begin classes for my Master of Public Health degree at Yale this fall.”

Dara’s story isn’t unique: 94% of 2018-2019 undergraduate degree recipients from Hofstra’s School of Health Professions and Human Services who responded to our graduation survey or other reliable sources (83% knowledge rate) reported that they were employed or had started or were planning to start graduate school within one year of graduation. Visit our outcomes page at hofstra.edu/outcomes for detailed information.