public health

Najmo Ahmed has a lot going on. She’s finishing her bachelor’s degree in social and behavioral sciences at the University of Southern Maine, interning at the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, and working toward a master’s in public health — all while preparing a commencement address her mother doesn’t even know about. Keep reading to hear how she got here, what drives her, and what she wants people to take away from her story.

All morning, Arctic Circle Assembly presenters in Reykjavik discussed everything from deep-sea mining and solar power to international internet laws. Now Emily Ireland ’24, a graduate student pursuing her master’s in public health, stood at the podium and looked out at scientists, diplomats, and engineers from all over the world. How would she do on the global stage? Keep reading to find out.