Public Health Alumna Elected to SOPHE
Cherish Thrash, a public health pre-clinical concentration alumna, was elected to the North Carolina Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) at their annual meeting in Charlotte last November.
NC SOPHE is a professional organization formed in 1965 to promote, encourage and contribute to the advancement of health of all people. Reacting to the news, Thrash said, “I stepped out of my comfort zone, so this is my first time doing something like this and it is a very big deal to me. I feel very honored that I was voted in and that people trust me.".
“I’m so proud that Cherish was elected to SOPHE last year, said Michelle Cathorall, associate professor and public health program coordinator in the School of Health and Applied Human Sciences (SHAHS). “I think she will do a great job coordinating the conference and I look forward to working with her on the committee.”.
Lindsey Nanney, associate director for academic and student affairs in SHAHS, said of Thrash, “Cherish exhibited profound resilience, perseverance, grace, and self-awareness while pursuing her public health degree at UNCW despite challenges that could have been a roadblock to success. Cherish is an inspiration and a delight who will serve the public health profession and any future career with excellence.”
Growing up, Thrash had dreamed of becoming a doctor and pursued other majors like biochemistry and biomedical engineering before she discovered a passion for public health. Thrash’s interest in public health originated from her desire to work in the medical field while having the opportunity to work directly with communities.
After graduating from UNC Wilmington in May 2024, Thrash joined NC Extension at the Center for Emerging Issues as Community Initiatives Program Associate. In this role, she works closely with faith communities to enhance community engagement and raise awareness for the improvement of public health programs, particularly in rural North Carolina. "I really like thinking outside the box to help people because traditional ways don’t always work for everybody. It shouldn't work for everybody. Everybody’s different,” she said.
Looking toward the future, Thrash is committed to creating sustainable health programs that will have lasting benefits for rural communities and minorities. One of her long-term goals is to establish a nonprofit organization focused on helping children in rural areas. “Overall, my goal is to help people,” she said.
NC SOPHE is a professional organization formed in 1965 to promote, encourage and contribute to the advancement of health of all people. Reacting to the news, Thrash said, “I stepped out of my comfort zone, so this is my first time doing something like this and it is a very big deal to me. I feel very honored that I was voted in and that people trust me.".
“I’m so proud that Cherish was elected to SOPHE last year, said Michelle Cathorall, associate professor and public health program coordinator in the School of Health and Applied Human Sciences (SHAHS). “I think she will do a great job coordinating the conference and I look forward to working with her on the committee.”.
Lindsey Nanney, associate director for academic and student affairs in SHAHS, said of Thrash, “Cherish exhibited profound resilience, perseverance, grace, and self-awareness while pursuing her public health degree at UNCW despite challenges that could have been a roadblock to success. Cherish is an inspiration and a delight who will serve the public health profession and any future career with excellence.”
Growing up, Thrash had dreamed of becoming a doctor and pursued other majors like biochemistry and biomedical engineering before she discovered a passion for public health. Thrash’s interest in public health originated from her desire to work in the medical field while having the opportunity to work directly with communities.
After graduating from UNC Wilmington in May 2024, Thrash joined NC Extension at the Center for Emerging Issues as Community Initiatives Program Associate. In this role, she works closely with faith communities to enhance community engagement and raise awareness for the improvement of public health programs, particularly in rural North Carolina. "I really like thinking outside the box to help people because traditional ways don’t always work for everybody. It shouldn't work for everybody. Everybody’s different,” she said.
Looking toward the future, Thrash is committed to creating sustainable health programs that will have lasting benefits for rural communities and minorities. One of her long-term goals is to establish a nonprofit organization focused on helping children in rural areas. “Overall, my goal is to help people,” she said.
This article has the following tags: College of Health & Human Services