Admitted students, confirm your enrollment
Prospective students, learn more
Exploring Possibilities in Public Health
BA in Global Health, BS in Biology, Duke University, 2023MPH ‘25 in Global Epidemiology, Infectious Disease Certificate
“It’s incredible how many opportunities there are for students to get involved with the CDC. I don’t know many people who get to say that they get to study things like leprosy and anthrax as a 22-year-old in their first year of grad school.”
With nearly the entirety of her undergraduate experience occurring during the COVID-19 pandemic, and multiple internships in the health space (including one at the Food and Drug Administration) during college, Haley Cionfolo knew she wanted a career in public health. So, upon graduation she immediately enrolled at Rollins—a school that had long been on her radar in a city she loves. Once she stepped through the doors, she never looked back.
“I’ve never questioned my decision to attend Rollins or to earn my MPH,” she says. “I’ve both been challenged and put at ease at the same time.”
A natural leader and person who enjoys getting involved, Cionfolo is incoming president for the Student Outbreak Response Team (a student organization on campus), works in a Rollins Earn and Learn position with CDC’s Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, and serves as a teaching assistant at Emory College. Between her course schedule and work, life is busy right now. But, Cionfolo finds balance by spending time with the strong friend group she’s established at Rollins, and appreciating the real-life experiences she is getting right now at the CDC.
“It’s incredible how many opportunities there are for students to get involved with the CDC. I don’t know many people who get to say that they get to study things like leprosy and anthrax as a 22-year-old in their first year of grad school,” she says. Outside of the actual work, which Cionfolo finds exciting, she enjoys working on a team that’s almost entirely female. She adds, “It feels really special to get to work in this female-forward leadership environment.”
In the classroom, Cionfolo is already seeing a return on investment as she builds her skills and takes in new perspectives. She’s shifted the way that she understands data (is it truly reflecting the situation?) and how she consumes media. She is adding technical capabilities like SAS to her resume, enhancing her research skills, and building a strong foundation in public health that she looks forward to growing over the next three semesters.