Student Spotlight: Nickie Williams-Singleton

DrPH student Nickie Williams-Singleton chose the GSU School of Public Health for its well-rounded core curriculum of technical and non-technical public health courses, as well as its wide selection of elective courses.

Name: Nickie Williams-Singleton

Hometown: Linden, Alabama

Undergraduate and master’s degrees and institutions:
I earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering from Duke University, a Master of Science in Engineering Management from National Technological University and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Current position: Senior Public Health Advisor, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Why did you choose the Georgia State School of Public Health?
I chose the GSU School of Public Health because it offered a well-rounded core curriculum of technical and non-technical public health courses. It also had the greatest selection of elective courses that I could take as part of my DrPH curriculum. I felt that the School of Public Health provided me with the opportunity to tailor my DrPH curriculum based on my interests, which I didn’t get from other DrPH programs. Also, the other programs I considered were either too rigid in their overall structure, or the types of courses offered were too narrowly focused. Lastly, one of the most important reasons I chose the School of Public Health is because when I did my in-person DrPH interview, it just felt right, which was important to me.

Tell us about your most memorable experience in the DrPH program.
Not feeling disconnected from my cohort or Georgia State instructors during our time of 100% virtual learning during COVID is probably my most memorable experience. Most of us in our cohort went an entire year or longer without physically seeing each other. Despite this, never once did I feel disconnected from my cohort or the Georgia State community.

What’s your career aspiration?
I learned early on in my professional career to always be open to different career opportunities, even those that I may have never considered. Therefore, I do not have a specific career aspiration in terms of a specific type of job. I do, however, always aspire to keep my skillsets sharp, make a positive impact in everything I do, identify ways to help others advance in their careers and be an influential public health leader.