Samantha Enos, an MPH student in Epidemiology and a member of the Navajo Nation, recently received an award from the non-profit ‘Native Forward’ that will fund her internship with the Navajo Epidemiology Center in Arizona.

Samantha (Sam) Enos, an MPH student in Epidemiology and a member of the Navajo Nation, recently received a funding award from Native Forward that will fund her internship with the Navajo Epidemiology Center analyzing Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data. She encourages other Indigenous students to apply for funding through the Native Forward Scholars Fund.

While she earns her MPH degree, Sam works as a Graduate Assistant at the UArizona’s Early Academic Outreach office where she oversees Geoscience Research Projects for the Native American Science and Engineering Program (NASEP). She recruits Native high school students from across the nation and trains them in Indigenous Research Methodologies as they complete their own Geoscience research projects. The students are encouraged to submit their projects to science fairs locally, regionally, and nationally. Some of her students presented projects in the most recent Southern Arizona Research, Science, and Engineering Fair (SARSEF). Offering guidance to NASEP participants allows them to eventually be successful candidates for future college admissions. She encourages Public Health students to volunteer to help with the next SARSEF.

“I am excited to work with my tribe's epidemiology center as I take my first steps in supporting Indigenous health among my home community,” said Samantha.

Congratulations Samantha, from all of us in the Zuckerman College of Public Health, on your award and your internship!