Caitlin Barrow Among Two Alumni Awarded Prestigious CDC Fellowships

ATLANTA — Georgia State University alumna Caitlin Barrow (M.S.W. ’24) first saw the call to apply for a prestigious U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) fellowship on a listserv sent to students in the School of Social Work. She wasn’t sure she was qualified, but Associate Professor Susan M. Snyder suggested she apply.

“I had Caitlin in three courses during her M.S.W. studies, so I knew the CDC would be fortunate to have Caitlin’s impressive intellect, strong work ethic, infectious passion and her warm personality as a fellow,” Snyder said.

“Dr. Snyder convinced me that my work in the nonprofit sector could apply,” Barrow said. “My knowledge of theory helped, too, along with the hands-on experience I gained during our capstone. I used it all in my application to show I was qualified.”

Barrow was one of 18 finalists selected from around the country for the CDC Evaluation Fellowship. She joins alumna Jasmine Uddin (M.P.A. ’24) as one of two Andrew Young School of Policy Studies alumni chosen this summer for CDC fellowships. Uddin was chosen to join the CDC’s Public Health Associates Program.

Barrow will begin her two-year fellowship focused on program evaluation this month. She’ll work on the National Partnership Cooperative Agreement, a large national grant focused on partnership support in public health. She will help develop the program evaluation and then follow up to see if it’s effective, where things can be improved and whether the CDC is making the impact it wants to in the communities using those federal funds.

“This program works to improve public health systems through workforce development and capacity building,” she said. “I’ll help look at the effectiveness of the national grant and how it can be improved, working with outside partnerships like local health centers, universities and nonprofits that have received the grant.”

Barrow has worked in nonprofit program management for a decade. Although she was familiar with program evaluation, she developed a fuller interest in the subject during her M.S.W. capstone project.

“Our team did a process evaluation of a local domestic violence shelter, the International Women’s House,” she said. “Our group interviewed staff and clients, looked at the facility and provided feedback. We created recommendations, a summary of findings and analyzed data they can use for future programming. The executive director presented our findings to the board during their annual retreat and made recommendations about future programming.”

The fellowship will allow Barrow to remain in Atlanta, in an office in the Druid Hills neighborhood, and not too far from her new roots at Georgia State.

“I was in a place in my career where I needed a little more formal training to advance,” Barrow said. “What makes Georgia State’s School of Social Work unique is its focus on community partnerships. You get the theory, and then have to apply it hands-on in your assignments and the work you do for the capstone. I was able to shape assignments and projects around the work I was doing for New American Pathways, a local refugee resettlement agency. And I felt validated for the knowledge I brought to class as a working professional.”

“I could not be prouder of Caitlin for this exceptional achievement,” Snyder said. “I am confident she will use this fellowship as a launching pad for a career that changes countless lives for the better.”