{"id":13938,"date":"2026-02-20T00:37:25","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T00:37:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/collegetrack.wpenginepowered.com\/?post_type=press&p=13938"},"modified":"2026-07-18T14:59:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T14:59:44","slug":"curiosity-in-action-iyahnas-path-to-public-health-with-ecgs-support","status":"publish","type":"scholar_story","link":"https:\/\/collegetrack.org\/es\/scholar-stories\/curiosity-in-action-iyahnas-path-to-public-health-with-ecgs-support\/","title":{"rendered":"Curiosity in Action: Iyahna\u2019s Path to Public Health with ECGS Support"},"template":"","community_tax":[154],"partner":[],"program":[],"class_list":["post-13938","scholar_story","type-scholar_story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","community_tax-san-francisco-ca"],"acf":{"details":{"featured_image":13939,"authors":"","abstract":"","helper_taxonomies":{"article_type":false,"community_tax":[154],"partner":false,"program":false,"role":false,"region":false}},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"SAN FRANCISCO, CA (February 20, 2026)- <\/b>Emerson Collective Graduate School Grants are now open until February 25, 2026, supporting college graduates who enroll in graduate school<\/span> and choose to pursue fields in Law, STEM, Health, and Education.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\r\n\r\nIyahna, a <\/span>College Track San Francisco<\/span><\/a> scholar and now an alumna, began her graduate experience far before she enrolled at California State University (CSU) Northridge; it started with her familial upbringing, curiosity, and a belief that open doors create powerful opportunities. She grew up in a family where loyalty, unity, and generosity flourished, and a determination for education was common. At a young age, she did not know where her education and career would take her, but she knew that, coupled with her familial upbringing themes, it would be filled with passion, excellence, and commitment.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nIyahna has gravitated towards spaces where themes of her familial upbringing are present. For her, that\u2019s College Track. \u201cCollege Track has just been another solid foundation for me to feel confident in whatever ambitions that I have,\u201d she said fondly, before adding, \u201cIt has always felt like an extended family for me.\u201d A member of San Francisco\u2019s Class of 2013, she has watched the site grow from the beginning, playing a role in historical moments like serving as the scholar keynote speaker at the official Bayview-Hunters Point grand opening.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nNow, as an alumna, Iyahna is dedicated to being the extended family for others. This determination is evident in her educational and career path. A Howard University graduate, she studied Psychology and minored in French. Following graduation, she stayed in the DC Metro Area, working in campus ministry. In 2020, she relocated to North Carolina, marking a defining moment in her life. There, she continued in the campus ministry field, while strengthening new roots in this new community.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nAfter pivoting to education, she became a second-grade classroom educator. In her classroom, she noticed patterns that sparked deeper curiosity. She wondered, \u201cWhat are the factors impacting community health?\u201d as she observed her kids entering the classroom with Takis, lollipops, and donuts for breakfast. Reflecting on this period, she added, \u201cI needed to understand what\u2019s preventing these families who come from a similar background as me from not being able to provide that resource, a healthy breakfast for their child?\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nFor Iyahna, curiosity fueled action, and after researching public health, she was determined to find answers to these probing questions. She decided graduate school was the fitting next move. In 2024, she stepped into her next chapter, a two-year Master\u2019s of Public Health at CSU Northridge. In her program, she\u2019s learning how to synthesize public health literature, critically interpret quantitative findings, and much more.<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe Emerson Collective Graduate School (ECGS) grant program is committed to supporting learners, like Iyahna, whose curious nature and growth lead to the pursuit of advanced degrees in master\u2019s, law, medical, and doctoral programs. With her MPH, Iyahna plans to pursue a career in health policy where she will combine her passions of community health and nutrition to shape the governing systems impacting outcomes for communities at large. Ultimately, she plans to become a leading public health advocate in the field. Her path reminds us that curiosity, interwoven with opportunity, choice, and purpose, creates powerful outcomes.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\nSeeking support as you allow your curiosity to thrive in graduate school? Apply for the ECGS grants here: <\/span>\u00a0https:\/\/app.smarterselect.com\/programs\/102893.<\/span><\/a>\r\n\r\nFor more information, please visit the ECGS grants page,\u00a0<\/span><\/i>https:\/\/sites.google.com\/collegetrack.org\/ecgs2026\/home<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/a>","":null,"drop_cap":false,"helper_width":"narrow"}},{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_related_stories","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_related_stories":{"manually_curate":false,"posts":""}}]},"yoast_head":"\nCuriosity in Action: Iyahna\u2019s Path to Public Health with ECGS Support - College Track<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/collegetrack.org\/es\/scholar-stories\/curiosity-in-action-iyahnas-path-to-public-health-with-ecgs-support\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"es_MX\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Curiosity in Action: Iyahna\u2019s Path to Public Health with ECGS Support - 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