Faces of DePauw

Forming a Path in Public Health

Brandon Collins '23, a neuroscience and global health double major, chose DePauw because of the small class sizes, tight-knit community and opportunity to be a Bonner Scholar and Environmental Fellow. 

Collins, from Clarksville, Tennessee, began volunteering at the Putnam County Health Department assisting in the COVID-19 vaccine clinic as part of his community service requirement for the Bonner Scholar Program. 

His interest developed into a passion, and he became increasingly involved with the health department. “The experience was nothing short of highly rewarding and insightful,” he said. “The people I worked with became more and more like family and they were always incredibly supportive of my professional and academic goals.”

Collins said many faculty and staff members guided him in significant ways. “Professor Crary was the reason I ended up majoring in global health after taking her intro course. She and Professor Susanne Biehle  advised me on graduate school opportunities and guided me in one of the environmental health projects I undertook at the Putnam County Health Department.”

Collins is working to obtain a master of public health degree with the goal of earning a Ph.D. in public health.