Originally from Naples, Fla., Adriana Campos is the daughter of Ecuadorian immigrant parents and a triple Bull, earning all of her degrees from the USF College of Public Health (COPH).
“I am a Bull through and through! Go Bulls!” she said.
Before choosing public health as her undergraduate major, Campos was undecided but chose to major in biology with a minor in public health.
“The more I learned about public health and what I could do within that space I decided to change my major to public health,” she said.
Campos first graduated in 2015 with her bachelor's degree in public health.
“Public health has the ability is make a difference in communities’ lives in a multifaceted way –and that is what interested me the most,” she said. “There are so many disciplines and different ways to approach health issues.”
She said returning to the COPH for her graduate degree was an easy decision.
“USF has always supported me and either offered me funding through graduate assistantships or through scholarships,” Campos said. “Feeling supported not just by the university, but also at the COPH and its faculty made USF my home. So, it’s always been an easy decision to continue my education at USF.”
Campos (far right) pictured while working in the field during her MPH practicum in Esmeraldas, Ecuador in 2017. (Photo courtesy of Campos)
In 2017, Campos graduated with her MPH in epidemiology and global health practice and began her professional career.
"During my MPH, I was exposed to both qualitative and quantitative research in the local and international setting. That experience prepared me for life after my MPH when I worked as an analyst for a federal contractor," she said.
Her desire to deepen her knowledge led her to pursue her doctoral degree at the COPH. During this time she worked on various public health projects, including those focused on chronic and infectious diseases, maternal and child health and disaster preparedness.
“The multi-faceted experience early in my PhD program prepared me for more independent career opportunities later during my program. When I was a doctoral candidate, I worked as a consultant for the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa and as a freelance pharmacoepidemiologist consultant,” Campos said.
During her time in the PhD program, Campos said one of her proudest accomplishments was her involvement in the COPH Educational Committee.
"My involvement in the committee allowed me to provide a student’s perspective, and I felt listened to and supported by faculty during my time as a student member," she shared.
Reflecting on the recognition she received for her contributions, Campos recalled, “After my time in the committee, Dr. Steve Mlynarek awarded me a certificate and said they were inspired to provide me this certificate based on my contributions during my time in the committee. After learning of Dr. Mlynarek’s passing, I realized how much that recognition meant to me."
Campos presented her poster for the 2022 Synergy Conference at the COPH Chiles Center. (Photo by Caitlin Keough)
In her final year at USF, Campos was involved in the establishment of the new DrPH concentration. “I was able to collaborate with Drs. Ismael Hoare, Ricardo Izurieta, and Jill Roberts to help establish the COPH’s DrPH concentration and I am proud of how much we moved forward during my time coordinating that effort,” she said.
Reflecting on the professors who made a lasting impact on her academic journey, Campos shared a deep sense of gratitude. "I will forever be thankful for each professor that I interacted with during my PhD tenure, especially the two professors that have always supported me and involved me in projects since my master’s program, Dr. Ricardo Izurieta and Dr. Roneé Wilson."
She highlighted specific faculty members who influenced her growth, mentioning Drs. Skai Schwartz for her honesty, Judith Rijhnhart for her guidance during her dissertation, Janice Zgibor for being a supportive committee chair and Henian Chen for his approachable teaching style in biostatistics. She also expressed profound appreciation for Drs. Stephanie Marhefka, who supported her search to choose her dissertation topic, even though she wasn’t a student of hers, and Ismael Hoare, who was her MPH co-advisor and remained a steadfast mentor throughout her PhD.
“Dr. Hoare’s door was always open and his mentorship meant a lot to me. I always left his office with a smile and in high spirits,” Campos recalled.
One of her favorite memories from her time at the COPH was the camaraderie she developed with her colleagues and professors. "My daily interactions with classmates and professors were priceless. I built great rapport with my professors and I miss them dearly now that I am in Washington, DC. But I will always stay in touch." she said.
"The faculty and staff at the COPH are just unbeatable,” Campos said. “They truly care about their students and I feel so lucky to have had so many incredible mentors to choose from."
Campos presented at the 2024 USF Health Research Day. (Photo courtesy of Campos)
In 2024, she graduated with a public health PhD concentration in epidemiology.
Currently, Campos is a science for development fellow at the United States Agency for International Development.
“I am part of the inaugural cohort for the science for development fellowship, which is a program that allows American scientists and engineers to apply their expertise in international development,” she said.
Campos said she supports the office of population and reproductive health, contributing to the high-impact practices in family planning team and applying her epidemiological expertise to various initiatives.
Campos' attraction to her current position was driven by her desire to combine her passions.
"I always wanted to work in global health but I also love epidemiology, so it was important to me to find a career where I can implement both my passions within public health," she explained. "I also wanted to move after graduation to a big public health hub, and Washington, DC felt like a perfect fit for my career aspirations."
For the future, Campos noted the opportunities for growth and exploration. "As a fellow, we have opportunities to explore different areas within the agency and learn what the different bureaus are working on, see where our expertise and skill set fits within different areas and are given the opportunity to prioritize our professional development."
Fast Five
What did you dream of becoming when you were young?
Depending on when you asked, either a physician, a pilot or some sort of engineer.
Where would we find you on the weekend?
Exploring Washington, DC with my husband and pup, Izzy.
What is the last book you read?
Currently reading “A Touch of Malice” from the “A Touch of Darkness” series.
What superpower would you like to have?
Time-travel
What’s your all-time favorite movie?
The Harry Potter series