The Patrice Graham-Adams Award for Community Engagement was created to honor a Fairbanks School of Public Health (FSPH) student in the final year of their academic program who honors the legacy of authentic community engagement, service, and advocacy for better health and health equity that Ms. Graham-Adams displayed during her career.
We want to congratulate the 2022 awardee, Mariam Sylla. As an MPH student graduating in May 2022, Ms. Sylla’s community-engaged work has impacted individuals locally and globally.
She has served the Indiana University Indianapolis and FSPH student body in numerous ways, working with the IU Indianapolis Office of Health and Wellness Promotion as a teaching assistant, program assistant, and peer health educator, as well as an international peer mentor with the IU Indianapolis Office of International Affairs.
She has served our Indianapolis community, including the Greater Indiana Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, the Al-haqq Foundation, and the IU School of Medicine, engaging with individuals across the lifespan, from maternal and child health to older adults.
Additionally, Ms. Sylla has worked with communities in Guinea, including partnering with two orphanages and a maternal clinic, collecting clothing and monetary donations for them and exploring future projects. In the future, Ms. Sylla desires to use her education and experiences to develop, implement, and evaluate health promotion interventions to improve community health and address health inequities.
From local to global, Ms. Sylla truly demonstrates a commitment to community that embodies the serving spirit of Ms. Graham-Adams.