Meet Onyinye Nnajiofor, a Rutgers School of Public Health MPH/MSW dual-degree graduate!
Onyinye Nnajiofor is part of the Class of 2024 and will be receiving her Master of Public Health (MPH) from the Rutgers School of Public Health. She will also be receiving her Master of Social Work (MSW) from the Rutgers School of Social Work.
We sat down with Nnajiofor, a first generation Nigerian American from central New Jersey, to learn more about her journey.
How did you become interested in public health?
I became interested in health disparities, health equity, and mental health after working in a tobacco cessation lab as an undergraduate student at the Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences while working towards my bachelor's degree in psychology.
What made you decide to come to the Rutgers School of Public Health?
I've always known I wanted to go to graduate school, so after receiving my bachelor's degree, I began to look for graduate programs that aligned best with my interests and the MPH/MSW program at Rutgers was the perfect way to blend all my healthcare interests at the micro- and macro-levels.
What have been some of your most meaningful experiences at the Rutgers School of Public Health?
The school gave me the opportunity to be part of amazing experiences such as my summer internships at Johnson and Johnson and Bristol Myers Squibb. I also really liked having access to the SPH Student Connect Canvas site, which was able to provide me with valuable information on how to gain summer opportunities within the pharmaceutical industry. With these experiences, I was able to make amazing connections and work on global health equity projects.
Do you have any advice for current students or those looking to get an MPH/MSW dual-degree?
My advice for graduate students is to never be afraid to look for opportunities that you're interested in, don't let what you choose to specialize in while in school stop you. As someone who concentrated in urban health, I would have never thought I'd find myself with a full-time job in a Fortune 500 company in corporate America or having amazing internships in the pharmaceutical industry, but you'd be surprised how powerful and versatile an MPH/MSW can be. Don't be afraid to branch out and make your own path!
