Meet the Lab – Alysha Caine Ennis

Alysha Caine Ennis, MPH (she/her/hers)

Title: Research Administration Management Analyst

UPDATED 10/10/2024

I’m the staff research manager on the PS Health Equity team, and a graduate of the Master of Public Health program at OSU, with a specialization in Health Behavior and Health Promotion. I mostly grew up in Texas, but have also lived in Arizona, Georgia, and most recently Brooklyn, New York before moving to Columbus, Ohio in 2019! My research interests include LGBTQ+ health disparities and sexual and reproductive health.

What drew you to a public health education?

I have a slightly non-traditional background, my undergraduate degree is a BFA in Fashion Design! I was drawn to Public Health because after several years of working in fashion and graphic design I wanted to pivot to a career that addressed equity and social justice, but that had several options for career paths. The Black Lives Matter movement coinciding with COVID-19 also influenced my decision to pursue a career tackling the social determinants of health and health disparities.

How do you spend your time outside of academia?

I have a pretty full household with a dog (Ellie), cat (Marcie) and brand-new baby (Mia)! I love taking walks with my family through my neighborhood and listening to podcasts and audiobooks. Besides walking, yoga is my favorite form of exercise. I also love meeting friends for dinner and drinks and exploring new places in Columbus.

What advice would you give to students pursuing public health?

Be open to your research interests and flexible with the type of career path you might take. Public health can open you to a surprisingly diverse number of opportunities if you keep your mind open to the types of opportunities you might be interested in! I took a GRA position in tobacco research even though I didn’t think of tobacco research as one of my passions, but that lead me to the PS Health Equity lab where I am able to combine my experience of tobacco research with one of my public health passions, LGBTQ+ equity!

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