New UW–Madison graduate Stephanie Woodson was featured in UMOJA Magazine recently, in an article headlined “McNair Scholar Demonstrates Unprecedented Strength Amid Adversity.”
Woodson earned her bachelor’s degree in health promotion and health equity in May 2021 from the School of Education’s Department of Kinesiology.
“Life gave Stephanie Woodson plenty of reasons to just quit. She didn’t,” the article begins.
Growing up in Milwaukee, Woodson persevered through several adverse childhood experiences, the article adds. She enrolled at UW–Madison following her graduation from John Marshall High School, with her sights set on becoming an athletic trainer.
However, the article explains that “academic excellence and a new-found passion for research” led Woodson becoming a McNair Scholars Program participant, and she switched her professional career goals toward promoting healthy living, especially in marginalized communities.
“I’m extremely interested in public health and more specifically health equity, health disparities in regard to the Black community,” Woodson said. “My grandmother and my maternal uncle did not survive their first heart attack. My grandmother was 56 and my uncle was just 45. I had to figure out what is happening in my family.”
Through her time at UW–Madison, Woodson confronted additional challenges. After COVID-19 brought campus life to a halt, in May 2020 her mother died suddenly. She is currently in the process of seeking guardianship of a younger sister.
Despite her struggles, the article explains, Woodson kept her grades up and been steadfast in accomplishing her dreams. In the fall, Woodson will pursue a master’s degree in public health at Emory University. “From there,” she said, “I plan to pursue my PhD.”
“I want to continue researching and create evidence-based programing specifically to reduce health disparities in the Black community.”
Read more of Woodson’s inspiring story at umojamagazine.org.