Meena's Master's of Public Health Tuition Fund

Hello, my name is Meenakshi and I am sometimes called Meena. I am from Santa Fe, NM. This fall I will begin my studies for a master’s degree in public health at Columbia University focusing on reproductive health, sex education, sexuality, and maternal health. I knew Columbia was the right choice for me because of their dedication to menstrual, reproductive, and maternal health.

Given the hardships I’ve faced, being accepted to Columbia is a major achievement for me. I was seven years old when I was diagnosed with epilepsy and would continue to have seizures for the next 17 years. Growing up, I was prescribed multiple different medications, but my seizures continued to go/be controlled. I was lucky to have a mother growing up who advocated for my health and helped me get the resources I needed to thrive. With support from my undergraduate university, I was able to get my bachelor's in biology and women's studies, graduating Cum Laude while having 2-6 seizures a day!

I am passionate about reproductive health and how it ties into public health. While pursing my bachelor’s I realized how many of my peers knew so little about reproductive health and how to keep themselves safe. I volunteered as a Peer Educator for Planned Parenthood in high school, where I was taught how to teach comprehensive sex education. I then took that knowledge gained into college, and continued helping my peers learn while other resources were less available. This solidified my passion in reproductive health and resolve to help others. During the COVID-19 pandemic I worked as a contract tracer for the Department of Health. This experience opened my eyes to how women, especially women of color, were disproportionally affected by the public health crisis. After having brain surgery in 2020 to combat my epilepsy I started to realize that I could use my story to help others. Between having brain surgery and working for the DOH I saw how great a need there is for effective and excellent public health in the United States.

The tuition for my 2-year program is $80,000 and I did not qualify for financial aid for a couple of reasons.

1). Even though I was awarded federal loans I did not qualify for financial aid. This is because I was awarded, as many students were, the New Mexico Lottery Scholarship for my undergraduate degree. This disqualified be from financial help at Columbia University. There is significantly less funding available to graduate students compared to undergraduate students.

2). I had a 3.6 undergraduate average; my GPA is 0.1 off from being considered for a Merit-based award. I’m personally responsible for 100% of my cost and because of this I have decided to reach out to my family and community for assistance and people who are important to me. I imagine I would have had a higher GPA if I wasn’t having 2-6 seizures a day and other health issues while receiving my bachelor’s. Without additional aid the $80,000 I will go into debt may end of being crippling.

With my master's degree, I aim to help the country understand the importance of public health and how it affects us all. From reproductive health and epidemiology to environmental health we are all a part of this planet, and thus are all impacted by actions. I aim to address how women are affected by medicine, teach sex education. I aim to change the paradigm surrounding menstrual health, sex education and reproductive health and how we all fit onto this planet together.

Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read about my pursuit of public health and what I aim to do with my degree.

Thank you for making a contribution. With your help, we are making a difference!