The Brown School 2024 Recognition Ceremony will feature speeches by two student speakers: Breana Wayne, MPH candidate ’24 and Colby Crowder, MSW candidate ’24. Wayne will deliver the Student Speaker Address before the hooding ceremony, and Crowder will present the Student Speaker Farewell Charge following the hooding of the students.
About the Speakers
Breana Wayne, MPH Candidate ’24
Global Health Concentration
Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Breana Wayne is an accomplished public health advocate and the CEO of Wayne Legacy LLC, operating The Wayne Creations Vending. This innovative venture focuses on distributing healthier snack options through vending machines across Chicago and the Greater Chicago Area. By replacing traditional junk food with nutritious alternatives, Wayne Creations aims to positively impact community health by making healthier choices more accessible.
Holding dual bachelor’s degrees in Biochemistry and Chemistry-Business from Bradley University, Wayne has consistently demonstrated her passion for addressing global health challenges. Her fieldwork in Cairo, Egypt, and Amman, Jordan, which concentrated on pediatric cancer research, has laid a solid foundation for her ongoing commitment to cancer epidemiology.
As a Cancer Epidemiologist Fellow, Wayne has significantly enhanced her research skills and deepened her commitment to improving healthcare outcomes for vulnerable populations. She has worked as a research assistant at the Brown School’s Prevention Research Center, focusing on health disparities related to obesity through policy actions and community-based interventions.
In addition to her research, Wayne has volunteered at The T STL, a St. Louis-based harm reduction program, where she worked to bridge care gaps for individuals at risk of overdose, underscoring her commitment to community health.
Her research excellence was internationally recognized when she received the Yuthar Al-Rawahi 2023 Award at the AACE International Cancer Education Conference (ICEC) in Toronto, Canada.
Further expanding her expertise, Wayne will be traveling to Romania to continue her impactful work in pediatric cancer research with the Cancer Epidemiology Education in Special Populations (CEESP) program. Here, she aims to further her research while preparing for medical school, where she plans to focus on pediatrics with specializations in epidemiology and possibly pediatric oncology or neurology.
Colby Crowder, MSW Candidate ’24
Social Impact Leadership Concentration
Colby Crowder, originally from Tyler, Texas, holds a sociology degree from the University of Central Missouri. He serves as the executive director of Senator Brian Williams’ Youth Advisory Board in St. Louis, a program that promotes community engagement and career exploration for local St. Louis area youth. Additionally, Crowder conducts research on youth opportunity at the Brown School’s Center for Social Development. In his spare time, he enjoys exercising, creating board games, and volunteering with Nine PBS. Passionate about equal opportunities, Crowder advocates for career advancement and the pursuit of aspirations for all.