Health behavior student will use Fulbright to address children’s malnutrition in Sierra Leone
April 29, 2014
Lacey English, left, became concerned about children’s nutrition when she worked with undernourished children in Uganda.
Lacey English, Master of Public Health student in health behavior at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, is one of 13 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill students who have thus far received a Fulbright Grant for work and study abroad during the 2014-2015 award period.
English will study malnutrition in children in Sierra Leone.
“I am passionate about targeting malnutrition because I believe it is a key contributor to many childhood illnesses,” English said. “Prior to starting graduate school, I worked in a rural region of Uganda and saw thousands of kids surviving on sugar cane and one meal per day. It was an issue that overtly impacted health, academic performance, and quality of life. Therefore, I want to be proactive in addressing this underlying cause of disease.”
English will work with a Sierra Leonean research team, coordinating the project in 10 clinics, many of which are in rural areas. She will oversee logistics, patient recruitment, data management and quality improvement.
“I’m very grateful for the good Fulbright support system here at UNC,” she said. I couldn’t have received the award without the help of the Fulbright adviser, faculty interviewers who reviewed my application, and professors who wrote recommendations.”
Benjamin Meier, JD, PhD, assistant professor of global health policy in UNC’s Department of Public Policy, reviewed English’s application and met with her prior to the submission of her application to the Fulbright Program.
“I was inspired,” Meier said, “by Lacey’s understanding of the statistical and interview research methods necessary for this study, her coursework at the Gillings School to prepare for this work on malnutrition, and her support through Project Peanut Butter to overcome obstacles in Sierra Leone.”
The student Fulbright Awards are managed at UNC-Chapel Hill by the Center for Global Initiatives.
