Meet the NMPHA Interns - Spring 2025

Lissete Aldaz - New Mexico State University

Hello everyone, my name is Lisette Aldaz. I am proud to be a part of New Mexico State University and to be a member of the wonderful NMPHA family. I am pursuing a bachelor's degree in public health and expect to graduate in May 2025. I am originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, and I currently reside in El Paso, Texas; I believe that my city is part of New Mexico as well. New Mexico is achieving incredible goals, and I hope we can bring those successes to Texas one day. I have a passion for helping others, and the well-being of people is what I enjoy most. Additionally, I am proud to say that I am a pet lover.

Gisselle Duron - University of New Mexico

Hello, my name is Gisselle Duron, and I am a senior at the University of New Mexico. I am majoring in Population Health with a minor in Maternal and Child Health. I am a first gen college student, which feels amazing being able to pursue my dream with the help of both of my parents. What gets my attention in the population health field is environmental health, air pollution, and infection prevention and control. All those things affect the whole population and doing something about it will be beneficial for our health. After I graduate with my bachelors in population health, I plan on going to nursing school or taking a radiology program.

Alex Jacobson - University of Alaska Anchorage

My name is Alex Jacobson and I grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska - about as far away as you can get from the rest of the country. I attended both the University of Fairbanks and the University of  Alaska Anchorage before I found my course in life - public health. I currently live in New Mexico, which is surprisingly similar to Alaska in some ways. I love learning new things and having discussions, so don't hesitate to reach out!

Madison Martinez - University of New Mexico

My name is Madison Martinez, and I am from Santa Fe, New Mexico. I am currently a senior at the University of New Mexico’s College of Population Health, majoring in Population Health with a minor in Psychology. I plan to graduate in the Spring of 2025. My interests in public health include One Health, health equity, epidemiology, and health literacy. I aspire to use the knowledge and experiences I have gained throughout my academic career to become a positive asset in the public health community, working to create interventions and programs for underserved children attending Title I schools.

Sheila Robles - New Mexico State University

My name is Sheila Robles, I am a senior at New Mexico State University and will be graduating in May 2025 with my bachelor’s degree in public health. I am a single mother and the first generation in my family graduating with a bachelor's degree. I have been working in the mental health field for about eight years now and have decided to change my career path to public health! I am passionate about promoting and advocating for health and wellness for all ages. I am a student representative with Paso Del Norte SOPHE. I also participate in the Public Health Practice Fellowship with the Association of State Public Health Nutritionists (ASPHN). Being active for most of my life has provided me with the opportunity to push my family towards a healthy lifestyle. In addition, I want to help my community be aware of resources that can improve their health in innovative ways.

 

Luis Rodriguez - Liberty University

Hello, my name is Luis Rodriguez, I'm from Puerto Rico, and I currently live in El Paso, Texas. I'm currently enrolled in the Masters in Public Health (MPH) program at Liberty University, and I'm doing my practicum with the New Mexico Public Health Association. I'm a United States Army Veteran, and during my free time I like to exercise, do outdoor activities, and watch basketball and football games. Through my practicum I hope to get more experience in the public health field, so I can become a public health professional.

Tiana Youtzy - University of New Mexico

Tiana Youtzy is a Junior at the University of New Mexico with a primary focus on Nutrition and a minor in Maternal Child Health. She is passionate about educating future generations on the importance of nutritional health and working towards providing direct assistance within family health. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she has always found a passion for the diverse communities that the state homes and is eager to begin working with the populations directly.