Student Spotlight: Alexandria Richter on Navigating Unique Pathways to Public Health
Meet Alexandria Richter
Alexandria Richter—a first-generation university graduate, marathoner, and RN-turned-doctoral student in the Department of Health, Behavior and Society's PhD in Social and Behavioral Sciences program—reflects on navigating her unique and winding public health journey.
- Program: PhD in Social and Behavioral Sciences
- Entry year: 2022
- Hometown: "I grew up in New York but moved to the South (Oklahoma and Texas) shortly after my formative years. If I can be candid, nowhere has ever truly felt fully like home to me—but living in Rome, Italy, where I lived for three years, was the closest I felt to somewhere having all the elements of 'home.' For now, though, I am really determined to make Baltimore feel like home!"
- Fun fact: “I am the first person in my family to attend and graduate from university!”
What sparked your interest in public health?
I started my career working as a registered nurse (RN) in the neonatal intensive care unit and the maternal/newborn unit.
Being in an area of the U.S. with higher-than-national average rates of chronic disease and dietary-related issues, I witnessed a lot of poor health outcomes among the mothers and infants that I worked very closely with. Seeing this on a regular basis made me feel helpless in my role as a clinician, and I turned to public health to improve health outcomes by preventing health issues from occurring in the first place.
What led you to join the Department of Health, Behavior and Society?
I'm convinced that when public health programs and policies do not consider the desires, priorities, and behaviors of the people they want to engage with, the policies and programs will inevitably fail to achieve what they were intended to achieve.
I wanted to be part of HBS to gain a thorough grounding in social and behavioral science and an understanding of the research methods that can be most effective at informing short-term and long-term solutions for improving public health.
What’s a research highlight you've experienced during your time as an HBS student?
Admittedly, when I started my PhD, I felt a bit behind my fellow cohort members since I did not have any publications. I collaborated on publications in my role at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization and carried out a systematic review during my MPH, so I had the experience, but almost nothing to show for it.
I decided to challenge myself, and I set out to produce my first academic paper, "Do Breastfeeding Policies and Practices differ in NICUs by Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative Status?" with the support of my adviser and study PI, professor Sara Benjamin-Neelon and study co-I, professor Sarah Gonzalez Nahm. I presented our findings at the American Public Health Association (APHA) annual conference in 2023, which was a lot of effort but one of the major highlights of my time as a PhD student so far!
Outside of public health, what are some of your hobbies, interests, and personal passions?
I run marathons! For me running has always been a way to unwind and stay active, but more recently it’s been about showing myself that I am capable of achieving what I never imagined could be possible. I draw parallels between getting through tough runs or races and overcoming self-doubt in academia—or in life more generally.
26.2 miles (42.1 kilometers) seemed impossible to run at first, but I always surprise myself with what I am capable of once I take the first few steps—and it has been the same with pursuing my PhD. One of my life goals is to run all six Abbott World Marathon Majors eventually, which are Chicago, New York, Boston, London, Berlin, and Tokyo! One down, five to go.
What advice do you have for prospective students interested in joining the HBS community?
I think it’s important to keep in mind that everyone's journey is extremely different and not to compare yourself to others—a mistake that I very frequently need to remind myself not to make. I was consistently drawn to professors in our Department that had diverse academic backgrounds or who had no idea they wanted to do a PhD earlier on in their career, because it made me feel like I didn't have to have it all figured out.
So it’s important to remind yourself that you definitely do not need to have it all figured out as a prospective PhD student. In fact, you never need to have it all figured out—the field of public health would likely not exist if any one of us had it all figured out. Go easy on yourself.
Is there anything else about yourself or your public health journey that you'd like to share?
My educational background has never been straightforward. When I was completing my BSN, I had no idea that I would eventually work at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization or be pursuing my PhD.
Life is full of surprises when you follow your passion and allow your personal and professional interests to evolve. I think the best outcomes happen when you find synergies in your experiences and use it as a unique lens to drive change and chase your dreams—which is what I intend to do wherever I end up in the future!
This interview has been edited and compressed. Views expressed are the subject's own.