Alumni

Laura Merrell ’03

Laura Merrell is a 2003 graduate of the Political Science Department. Throughout her undergraduate career at UNCG she was active in the Model United Nations, and has kept up her focus on international affairs since graduating. She remained active in the Southern Regional Model United Nations, serving in several capacities, including: Committee Director, Deputy Director-General, Director-General, DG Emeritus, Vice President of the Board of Directors, and finally ending her service as President of the Board of Directors. Laura pursued a Master’s in Public Health degree at the University of South Florida in the Department of Global Health, graduating in 2010. During her MPH she had the opportunity to travel to Niger, where she did qualitative research with women suffering from Obstetric Fistula (which she published). Laura also spent 9 weeks in rural India working with a community-based primary health care organization that has been recognized by various organizations (including the World Health Organization) for its outstanding work.

Laura began the PhD program at the University of South Florida in the Department of Community and Family Health in the Fall of 2011.  She worked with one of her advisers on an NIH funded grant on an intervention for dental students to increase prevention of eating disorders.  She is currently working for a NIH-funded research center in women’s health in addition to her work as a Graduate Research Assistant.