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Bryn Haden '22

Professional Journey 

What are you currently doing professionally?

"I recently graduated from UNC-CH with my MPH in Applied Epidemiology and I am currently working at the UNC Systems Office as a Higher Ed BI Analyst. As a Higher Ed BI Analyst, I work with data from 17 institutions across North Carolina, analyzing student, HR and finance data while helping to manage our enterprise Data Marts. I also manage ticket workflows to resolve data requests from both internal and external partners."

Do you see connections between your experiences at the Center and what you’re doing now? If so, what are they? Do you see connections between your experiences at the Center and what you’re doing now? If so, what are they? 

"While the data I work with now differs from what I handled at the Center, the core skill set, managing large datasets and maintaining strict data security, remains the same. I’m grateful for that prior experience, as it prepared me well to work confidently with the sensitive data I manage today."

Impact of the Center 

How did your experience at the Center for Community Health Innovation influence your career or academic goals?

"I still remember when I first learned about Dr. A’s work at the Center during my Public Health 101 class. I didn’t realize it at the time, but that one lecture completely shifted my academic path. It inspired me to add a second major and eventually pursue a second degree within the realm of public health. I truly wouldn't be where I was if I never learned about the Center. "Can you share a specific experience/project/moment from your time at the Center that helped shape your professional identity?

"I used data from the Center for my Honors project and had the opportunity to present that work at the Southeast ACSM Conference. Not only did that experience connect me with MPH programs and ignite my interest in graduate school, but being the only undergraduate presenting in my group gave me confidence in my ability to communicate complex data to a technical audience. That moment played a pivotal role in shaping how I see myself professionally. "

What skills or values did you gain from working at the Center that you still use today?

"Honestly, if I listed everything, it would fill a whole page. Dr. A took the time to teach us how to use SPSS and other data platforms, how to analyze both quantitative and qualitative data, and how to handle sensitive datasets with care. The technical and analytical skills I gained at the Center directly helped me land my first job with the Virginia Department of Health after graduation and were a major reason I succeeded in a top MPH program. My time at the Center was truly invaluable. "

Advice & Reflections 

What advice would you give to current students working at the Center or considering a career in community health innovation (whatever that may mean to you)?

"Don't be afraid to ask questions. Dive into the experience fully, these opportunities are special. What I've learned is the more you put into something, the more you'll take away. And don't come in with any assumptions, really let the experience teach you what you need to know. "

Looking back, what does being a “changemaker” mean to you now?

To me, being a changemaker means being someone who truly cares and doesn’t stop caring. Dr. A has been putting in tireless work for years, and because of her dedication, we now have something as impactful as Melrose Plaza. You can’t make change if you don’t care deeply, and sometimes being one of the only people who does is exactly what’s needed to spark progress.