Greetings from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis. We are your Student Ambassador team, and we are here to answer any questions you might have about the application process, the curriculum or life at the Brown School. Read a little about us below.
(Bios below follow photo, from left to right)
If you want to schedule a time to chat directly with a student ambassador, please contact brownadmissions@wustl.edu. We look forward to helping guide you through the graduate school selection and admissions process!
PEIYUAN ZHANG (SHE/HERS)
Program: MSW
Concentration/Specialization: Health/Research
Hometown: Beijing, China
About: “My research area of interest is palliative care education, health communication strategies and health policy for rare disease populations. My past direct practice was mainly about providing emotional, informational support for cancer patients and ALS patients. For now, I am completing a Social Work practicum in Barnes-Jewish Hospital’s Palliative Care Department. I love snorkeling and hiking —and my palms can touch the ground when I bend, while keeping feet together and legs straight.”
KELLAN ROYBAL (HE/HIS)
Program: MSW/MBA
Concentration: Health
Hometown: Denver, Colo.
About: “My career interests include healthcare access and equity, patient advocacy, and social determinants of health. To motivate myself to work out, I play dragon-slaying music. I’m a big fan of international soap operas, reading trashy romance novels and working hard to give my dog the life she deserves.”
ALLI GILLESPIE (SHE/HERS)
Program: MSW
Concentration: Individualized: Gender, Migration and Humanitarian Response
Hometown: 3/4 San Antonio, Texas; and 1/4 New York, N.Y.
About: “Research and career interests include organizational culture and policy in international humanitarian response, queer diasporas, and the relationship between forced displacement and prevention of/response to gender-based violence. I love musical theater, crafting, homemade margaritas, and my wiener dog, Dora.”
JAY DEBROW (THEY/THEM)
Program: MSW
Concentration: Mental Health
Hometown: Charleston, S.C.
About: “I am currently completing two concentration practica: one with Central Reform Congregation, a local Reform Synagogue, and one with the Missouri History Museum, working in the field of disability accessibility. In my free time, I love spending time with my cat, Vincent, trying new recipes and playing social strategy games!”
ALEXI BOLTON (SHE/HERS)
Program: MSW, Advanced Standing
Concentration/Specialization: Domestic Social and Economic Development/Social Entrepreneurship
Hometown: Madison, Ala.
About: “After graduation, I’ll be working in policy and communications for an advocacy organization. I’m interested in leveraging the overlap between business and social work to build strong community economies and providing equitable opportunities to children. I am a big fan of crossword puzzles, Saturday HGTV marathons, Pure Barre and trying new coffee places.”
EMILY CORNETT (SHE/HERS)
Program: MSW
Concentration: Undecided
Hometown: Baltimore, Md.
About: “I am a first-year MSW student interested in the intersections of mental health and the criminal justice system, and working with communities affected by incarceration. In my free time, I love to hike, cook and play the cello. During undergrad, I was in a 12-cello rock band!”
SARAH KANG (SHE/HERS)
Program: MPH
Specialization: Health Policy Analysis
Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif.
About: “I am a second-year MPH student from Los Angeles. I went to a small liberal arts school prior to coming to the Brown School and am interested in prescription drug policy regulation and drug pricing policy. My cat and I road tripped from LA in two days!”
QAIS DIRAR (HE/HIS)
Program: MPH
Specialization: Epidemiology/Biostatistics
Hometown: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
About: “I am a second-year MPH student specializing in epidemiology and biostatistics. I’m also a physician with interest in research, primary care, and global health. I intend to utilize my MPH knowledge to alleviate poverty and improve healthcare services in the community, rural regions and vulnerable populations. Fun Fact about me, I love handmade products and I collect mugs … got to have them all!”
BETH GENTSCH (SHE/HERS)
Program: MSW/MPH
Concentration/Specialization: Intended: Health (MSW)/ Health Policy (MPH)
Hometown: Arlington, Va.
About: “I am an MSW/MPH student pursuing the Health concentration. I’m interested in how policies and communication within the healthcare sphere can affect health disparities and patient experience. In my free time, I enjoy listening to podcasts, baking anything with peanut butter, and working out on my back porch while trying not to weird out my neighbors!”
DAISZHA COOLEY (SHE/HERS)
Program: MSW/MPH
Concentration: Domestic Social and Economic Development or Individualized (MSW)/Generalist (MPH)
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colo.
About: “I am interested in advancing racial equity and promoting mental health through community-based efforts and youth engagement. During my free time, you’ll likely find me reading comics, exploring Forest Park or checking out restaurants around St. Louis.”
NICHOLAS ASHER (HE/HIS)
Program: MSW/MSP
Concentration: Mental Health
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Ind.
About: “Before coming to the Brown School, I worked in a community mental health organization and in the student affairs division at a university. These experiences created a passion and interest in mental health policy and disability policy. During my free time, you can catch me walking my Golden Retriever, Rosé, in Forest Park, exploring the city, or trying different ice cream and coffee shops.”