Students at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, and historically Black Tougaloo College in Mississippi have collaborated on a research project regarding public health challenges in rural Mississippi.
The new course, taught by Erica Walker, an assistant professor of epidemiology in the School of Pubic Health at Brown University, is the latest initiative in a longstanding partnership between Brown University and Touglaoo College. The two schools have collaborated on student, faculty, and administrative exchange and research programs since 1964.
Housed on the Brown University campus, 12 students from Brown University attended the course in-person, while nine students from Tougaloo College attended virtually. Throughout the spring semester, students studied the community health impacts of a wood pellet manufacturing plant located in Gloster, Mississippi. The course involved both rural public health lectures and discussions, as well as a data studio for the students’ research projects.
Students presented their findings to their class as well as community members from the town of Gloster. Two students will be selected to present their research findings at the Mississippi Health Disparities Conference in June.
