Zoe van Vlaanderen ’20 began her UVM career enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences Integrated Social Sciences Program (now called the LASP program) which allowed her to take classes with a small group of motivated students with similar interests. “We lived in the same building in the Living Learning Center at UVM and took the same classes together. It was great to part of this exciting learning community right from the start.”

The rich mix of interdisciplinary courses informed her interest in translating social and behavioral health theory into public health practice. She is graduating with a B.A. in health and society, with minors in statistics and economics. Beginning this fall van Vlaanderen will start a masters of public health degree program at Columbia University.

She developed extensive research experience as a UVM undergraduate, working with Professor Jane Kolodinsky, director of UVM’s Center for Rural Studies. The project, funded by a USDA grant, explored ways to develop food delivery systems in rural economies.

“I worked on a foodbox program, which brings together small farmers with local general stores. The foodbox provided fresh produce for customers who couldn’t afford the cost of a whole CSA season.”

This experience encouraged her to seek out further research experience, and the following summer she worked full-time for the Ohio State University investigating opioid addiction in Appalachia. She also spent a semester studying at the University of Ghana, where she took classes like The Healthcare System in Ghana, Global Health Security, and Culture and Reproductive Health. These experiences have affirmed her desire to pursue a career in public health research.