Greetings, my name is James Na, MPH graduate at the University of Nevada, Reno. I am a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California, a minority small business owner supporting and raising a beautiful family of three rambunctious kids. Recently, I served as the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) unit President at my children's school, and I am also a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteer.  I look forward to starting my new career in Public Health and plan to use my business background to elevate myself both academically and in life goals.
I began my graduate studies program later in life due to self-efficacy in academics. However, instead of formal education, I had built a wealth of knowledge of the food industry from a commercial and distribution standpoint. My interest in Public Health began when my father was hospitalized due to various conditions; it peaked around the time of my father's passing and the birth of my youngest to realize that I wanted to be part of something greater. My sister introduced me to Public Health, and I began applying for graduate school online MPH programs near the end of July. My University of Nevada Reno application was completed within 48 hours of the due date and thus started my journey in public health.

Figure 1 - Photo of Bancroft Community Garden. The dividing line between a youth group and the community. Photo taken by James Na in January 18, 2021