June 25, 2026

A member of the Class of 2026, Chizoba Okorie officially earned her Master of Public Health (MPH) in Epidemiology with a minor in Biostatistics from the Drexel Dornsife School of Public Health this June at the Academy of Music. As a proud new Dornsife alumna, Chizoba shares highlights from her dynamic graduate school journey and the experiences that prepared her to make a lasting impact in public health.

Originally from Nigeria, Chizoba’s path to public health was shaped by studies in international relations, sociomedical sciences, and medical anthropology. These fields have helped her understand the power of community and the importance of equity.

“Health is a human right,” Chizoba said, “but not only a right, because it should be rooted in all the good we do for one another to promote an equitable society.”

That belief has guided every stage of her academic and professional journey. From conducting community-based research in Uganda to advancing health equity initiatives in Philadelphia, Chizoba has focused on ensuring that research serves the people who need it most.

One of her earliest public health experiences involved leading Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) on the causes and consequences of early girl-child marriage in Bukanga, Uganda. Working closely with community members, she helped uncover the social and structural factors driving the practice and contributed to sustainable, community-informed recommendations designed to create lasting change.

At Dornsife, her work continued to center on communities that are often overlooked in research and public policy. Through the Health Equity Lab for Paternal Education and Research (HELPER), she assisted in coordinating research and community partnerships focused on Black fatherhood and paternal health. Simultaneously, she worked on her Applied Practical Experience (APE) at the Social Dynamics of Intervention (SoDI) Lab at the A.J. Drexel Autism Institute. Collaborating with Elizabeth McGhee Hassrick, PhD, Associate Professor and Director of SoDI Lab, she studied how social networks influence caregiver empowerment.

What began as quantitative research evolved into direct community impact. Chizoba’s SoDI Lab study abstract was accepted as a poster at the International Society for Autism Research’s annual meeting in Prague this past spring. That work later expanded into a partnership with the African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA) on MOSAICcircle, an initiative designed to strengthen culturally responsive autism supports for Black and African immigrant families in West Philadelphia.

Through MOSAICcircle, Chizoba co-developed autism training for ACANA staff and drafted a policy brief aimed at scaling the program citywide.

“I have already used my degree to turn research and data into something communities, most especially minoritized communities, can understand, hold, and act on,” she said.

For Chizoba, that translation from evidence to action is where public health creates its greatest impact.

“Going forward, I want to keep working where rigorous research meets real community need, producing evidence that helps translate findings into care, programs, and policy that reach the communities too often left out of the data.”

Her commitment to service extends beyond research. Throughout her time at Dornsife, she served as a Student Ambassador, Peer Mentor, and Event Coordinator and Vice President of Online Learning and Social Engagement for the Dornsife Student Government Organization. Her leadership and dedication to building community among students earned her Drexel University’s Graduate Student Leader of the Year Award for 2026.

Yet her journey was not without challenges. When she arrived at Drexel, Chizoba was navigating personal difficulties while adjusting to a new city, a new academic environment, and the demands of graduate school. The transition was not easy.

“I was going through some personal challenges, and on top of that, moving and transitioning into a new city while starting a new program brought a lot of fear and anxiety,” she reflected. “With time, though, I found my footing.”

Looking back, she credits the support of the Drexel community with helping her grow into the researcher and leader she is today. That sense of belonging is one reason Dornsife stood out to her from the beginning.

Chizoba also found mentors who challenged and encouraged her. As a research assistant and mentee of Adaobi Anakwe, PhD, Assistant Professor at Dornsife, she gained hands-on experience that strengthened both her confidence and technical expertise.

“What I valued most was that she treated me as a developing researcher with something real to contribute, not just a student to manage,” she said. “That belief gave me the confidence to take on work I was not sure I was ready for.”

She also credits her faculty mentor, Félice Lê-Scherban, PhD, Associate Professor at Dornsife, whose constant encouragement carried Chizoba through the harder stretches of her epidemiology journey. Together, these mentors are a big part of why she leaves this experience with skills, and a happiness, that genuinely exceeded her own expectations.

As she looks ahead, Chizoba remains committed to advancing health equity through research, community partnership, and evidence-based action. Her work reflects a vision of public health that goes beyond data and statistics—one that centers people, amplifies community voices, and creates pathways to better health for those too often left behind.

Congratulations on your graduation, Chizoba!