From campus to Corps: Public Health grad using community-centered training for global good

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 6, 2026) — Fourteen days after graduating from the University of Kentucky, Morgan Brooke will board a plane for South America and begin her next chapter living out a dream she has carried since childhood. 

The College of Public Health senior is heading to Paraguay as a Peace Corps volunteer, where she will spend three months in training followed by two years working as a public health promoter in rural communities. There, Brooke will partner with local health workers, schools and families to address issues such as malnutrition, nutrition access and mental health. 

“The Peace Corps has always been a dream of mine since I was a little girl,” Brooke said. 

For Brooke, this opportunity is more than a post-graduation plan — it is the culmination of years spent preparing to serve communities on a broader scale. 

Growing up in Rowan County, Kentucky, and spending summers in Pikeville, Brooke saw firsthand how where a person lives can shape their opportunities, health and future. 

“I think that every kid deserves the foundation to success, and not every kid’s given that,” she said. “So, especially in these rural communities, even underserved communities anywhere, I think that’s something that’s really impacted me.” 

Those early experiences planted the seeds of compassion, but it was a trip to Ghana after high school that ultimately transformed her career path. 

Brooke traveled to the West African country to teach English, math, science and physical education in a local village. Before that experience, she envisioned a future in direct patient care as a physician assistant. But while working with children there, she realized the challenges communities faced extended beyond individual care. 

“After leaving, I knew it was more of a policy and community-level impact that I wanted to make,” Brooke said. “So that’s when I found out about public health.” 

Brooke enrolled at UK and found a home in the College of Public Health — academically, professionally and personally. 

As a first-generation college student, she arrived on campus nervous but eager. Over four years, she said UK became far more than a place to earn a degree. 

“I think that UK grew me more as a person than anything,” Brooke said. “I’ve become a better friend and a better leader. UK, and especially the College of Public Health, has taught me the power of compassion and just really put me outside my comfort zone to go into the community to meet these families where they are, which ultimately helped me find my voice in policy making.” 

That sense of belonging extended beyond the classroom through events, mentorship and faculty relationships that Brooke says made a lasting difference. She specifically highlighted the support of professors and mentors who encouraged her growth, both professionally and personally. 

Inside the classroom, Brooke said one of her most meaningful academic experiences came through professor Sarah Cprek, Ph.D., in a class on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) — potentially traumatic events that occur in childhood and can affect health later in life. 

“Something that’s really resonated with me in the College of Public Health is learning about ACEs, just how your childhood experiences really shape your adult health later in life,” she said. 

The concept deepened her understanding of the social determinants that influence health outcomes and reinforced her passion for prevention-focused, community-centered work. 

Brooke also points to her global public health course with lecturer Zane Maguet as one of the most important pieces of preparation for Paraguay. 

“I’m currently taking global public health, and we’re learning about malnutrition and access to health care in developing countries, and that’s exactly what I’m going be doing for two years,” she said. 

Through coursework, case studies and health communication training, Brooke said that during her time with the College of Public Health she has learned how to translate complex issues into practical, culturally relevant solutions. 

“Public health has really given me the knowledge and the practical skills with issues like malnutrition, HIV/AIDS awareness and overall community health,” she said. “I also have built experiences through health communication, how to take complex topics like HIV prevention and nutrition and make them understandable and relevant for different audiences.” 

Those skills will be essential in Paraguay, where Brooke’s work will center not on imposing outside solutions but on collaborating with communities to identify sustainable pathways forward. 

“I think from the College of Public Health, my biggest takeaway is health isn’t just about data and stats,” Brooke said. “It’s more about connecting with the people and going to the community and meeting them where they’re at.” 

That philosophy has become central to how she views her Peace Corps role. 

“It’s not my job to fix all of Paraguay in one community,” Brooke said. “My role is to engage with the community and understand what they need from me — not to come in with assumptions or outside perspectives as an American, but to learn from them.” 

As she prepares to live with a host family and immerse herself in Paraguayan culture, Brooke hopes the experience will shape her just as much as she hopes to make an impact. 

“Personally, I hope to grow and step outside my comfort zone,” she said. “I want to adapt to a new culture and build meaningful relationships with my community.” 

Professionally, she hopes her time in Paraguay will strengthen her skills in program development, grant work, health communication and sustainable resource-building. 

But above all, Brooke’s goal — for Paraguay and beyond — is simple: to leave communities stronger. 

“My biggest hope is that even after I leave, the community keeps growing and improving its health, supported by the programs and foundation I helped create,” she said.