Duncan Coltharp

As a non-traditional student, the Universities at Shady Grove (USG) has provided me with an incredible opportunity to complete my undergraduate education while working full time. I came to USG from Montgomery College (MC) in 2021, nine years after dropping out of college in Virginia. At MC, I was able to complete an Associate of Science with Honors in Public Health as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honors society. Faculty members and advisors at MC saw me as a driven college student and recommended I consider the University of Maryland, College Park’s (UMCP) B.S. in Public Health program, which is offered at USG.

I am grateful for the winding path I am taking through higher education, because of the wide breadth of experience I have gained along the way. I owe a lot to the people who have helped and continue to help me on this path, and to strengthen me to follow my instincts. Only after years of working in Alaska was I introduced to the concept of public health work. I was immediately struck by the power of public health thinking. UMCP’s public health curriculum at USG focuses on intersectionality, structural issues and research. My classes are diverse in all aspects, and many classmates are working students. The small class sizes consistently help me connect directly with professors and make friends among students I see often.

On campus at USG, I’ve engaged with student-led events like International Night, where I got to see my first Lion Dance in person. Every semester, I find new ways to get involved due to the flexible nature of USG events and organizations. I am proud of my work with Zeta-Sigma, an Honor Society for students with disabilities. In the summer of 2022, I was invited to participate in an internship with the Institute for Research on Male Supremacism, through Collective Power for Reproductive Justice. That was very rewarding in the context of rising right-wing extremism and gave me confidence in the direction I want to take my career.

My expected graduation date is spring of 2024. I look forward to dynamic public health work in behavior, emotional health promotion and violence prevention. I also intend to further my education through graduate school and participate in research work. Sometime after graduation, I’d like to apply to a graduate program for a Master’s in Public Health, with a focus on Gender, Equity, and Behavioral Health. It is my hope that through intersectional public health interventions we can support current and future generations in leading balanced, healthy and vibrant lives.