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School of Public Health
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With a passion for research and teaching, MPH student Larry Mason Jr. aspires to a career in academia that supports impactful nonprofit initiatives.
Name: Larry Mason Jr.
Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana
Undergraduate degree and institution: Bachelor of Science in Public Health, Xavier University of Louisiana
Expected date of graduation: May 2025
Why did you choose the Georgia State School of Public Health?
I chose Georgia State because of the supportive environment, copious amounts of research opportunity and its mission to support health equity in all spaces!
Which MPH concentration did you choose, and why?
I chose to concentrate in Health Promotion and Behavior because I’ve always favored my theoretical and intervention development classes. By choosing this concentration, I was able to expand on my knowledge of theory and intervention development to include evaluation, scale-up and much more.
What has been your favorite class in the SPH so far, and why?
My favorite class has been “Health Promotion Programming.” This was also my favorite class in my undergraduate studies. It focused on lots of group work but provided the framework for how to successfully craft interventions from start to finish. This was the same for the “Intervention Development” course.
What advice would you give undergraduate students considering pursing an MPH at Georgia State?
Curriculums for MPH programs are generally the same, but if you have a specific interest, learn about the research areas of professors because they will likely teach elective courses in them and certificates may be offered in them.
Tell us about your campus involvement?
I participate as a Graduate Research Assistant under Dr. Spears. This allows me to interact with community members and conduct meaningful research geared toward underprivileged populations.
What’s your career aspiration?
Academia! I hope to combine my love for research (crafting research and leading a team), with teaching and providing technical assistance for nonprofits.