My name is Madelyn Lands, and I am an honors student majoring in Public Health with a concentration in Clinical Trials Research and a minor in Environmental Health. Additionally, I’m a part of Kent State University’s combined bachelor-master’s program and will proudly graduate in May 2026!
I’m originally from Toledo, Ohio, and from the moment I toured Kent State, I fell in love with the energy of the campus and the natural beauty of northeast Ohio.
I was also drawn to the region’s world-renowned medical systems and Kent’s Exploratory Program. In high school, I wasn’t completely sure what career path I wanted to pursue and worried about making the wrong choice, so the university’s exploratory program seemed like a perfect fit. That all changed during a campus college fair, when I discovered the College of Public Health. In that moment, everything clicked — I knew I had found my place.
I began my journey at Kent State as a Public Health major on the Pre-Med track because I knew I wanted to help people, though I wasn’t sure how to. After my first semester, I realized that path didn’t feel like the right fit.
With the guidance of the amazing advisors in the College of Public Health, I decided to shift my concentration to Clinical Trials Research — and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Through that change, I discovered my love for epidemiology. It perfectly blends my curiosity about communicable diseases with my passion for improving the health and well-being of others.
Moving away from home was one of the hardest things I have ever done; however, this experience helped me grow the most — both personally and professionally. Building my community took time for me, but when it finally came together, it felt meant to be. The faculty and staff in the College of Public Health became my biggest support system.
I was able to go to them with any problem and received unconditional support. I am so grateful for the encouragement and motivation they’ve given me throughout my collegiate journey.
Kent State has given me incredible hands-on experiences. During my first semester, I worked at the front desk for the College of Public Health,
where I learned how essential communication and organization are in this field. During the summer between my freshman and sophomore year, I interned at the Toledo-Lucas County Health Department, working with epidemiologists to track and report local diseases.
After my sophomore year, I interned at Summit County Public Health as a Mosquito Control Technician where I applied insecticide to ponds, ditches and other waterways to prevent mosquito-borne diseases. I even drove the adulticide-spraying truck at night! This experience taught me so much about environmental health and how vital it is to protect our community.
Each opportunity has strengthened my passion for public health and shaped the professional skills that will guide me moving forward.
One of my favorite experiences on campus is being a member of the Mobile Flashes team, which is the College of Public Health’s community outreach program. From passing out food at local food pantries to providing health education at screening events, I’ve seen firsthand how public health resources make a difference in people’s lives.
Through these experiences, I’ve grown more confident in who I am and what the right path is for me. After graduating with my Bachelor of Science in Public Health, I plan to complete my master’s in public health with a concentration in epidemiology and continue working toward a career in disease prevention and health promotion. My dream position is to be an epidemiologist working at the state-level with the Ohio Department of Health or federal-level at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
If I could offer one piece of advice to incoming students, it would be: stay curious.
My own curiosity about how diseases spread and how we can prevent them is what drew me to the field of public health. That same drive motivates me each day, and I hope I never lose the desire to keep learning and growing. Change can be intimidating, but embracing it has made me more confident, capable, and resilient.
I encourage new students to stay open to new experiences — connect with faculty, step out of your comfort zone, and pursue opportunities that spark your interest. Those moments of curiosity can lead to the experiences that ultimately shape your path. Kent State gave me the freedom and support to explore my interests, and I’ll always be grateful for the community that helped me turn my curiosity into my purpose.