Convocation Spotlight: Nkechinyere Chinedu-Asogwa, master in public health
12 June 2025
Nkechinyere Chinedu-Asogwa arrived in Edmonton to pursue her master’s in public health after developing a deep passion for community service in her home country of Nigeria. The mother of three sometimes struggled to balance academic demands with family life, but mentoring from other successful working mothers in the School of Public Health supported her through the most challenging times. Now, graduating with a master’s degree as well as two graduate certificates — in Community-Based Research and Evaluation and Global Health Equity — she looks forward to influencing system-level changes in public health through evidence-based research.
What drew you to this program?
My journey into public health was born out of a deep passion for community service that manifested in my early volunteer work Achieving Health Initiative Nigeria, on a HIV and Gender-based violence awareness project in underserved communities in Nigeria. Despite coming from a non-clinical background, I was determined to make a difference and impact population health through strategic health communication and grassroots engagement. As I progressed through the years, I assumed leadership roles in major internationally funded projects and centred on behaviour change communication, stakeholder engagement, and implementation research .. These experiences revealed the profound impact of social factors on health outcomes and motivated me to pursue further academic training that will broaden my understanding of the wider determinants of health. Studying Public Health at the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ allowed me to build on this foundation, deepening my expertise in Public Health research, and community engagements, which I am committed to applying both locally and globally.
What are you most proud of from your time in the program?
I am very proud of every bit of my achievements, from the obvious achievement of adding two industry-relevant graduate embedded certificates (GEC) to my MPH degree all at once, to graduating with an excellent standing grade. I am also very proud of my significant contributions to the various community-based organizations that I collaborated with in the course of my program, especially the two most recent ones — my work with YWCalgary, where, through stakeholder engagements and evidence synthesis, I produced a comprehensive report to inform the design of screening tool for identifying women and children at imminent risk of domestic violence. The evidence I gathered targets improved client triage and risk assessment processes, ultimately enhancing service delivery for vulnerable populations. Additionally, I take pride in researching and developing a communication framework for the Multicultural Family Resource Society as a board intern — a framework that targets strengthening stakeholder engagement and program visibility, contributing to increased program support and funding opportunities. This program in very tremendous ways provided me the platform to elevate an early passion into evidence-based, system-transforming research.
How did you stay motivated during your studies?
It was incredibly tough balancing the demands of academics with family responsibilities. As a mother of three and an international student, I often felt stretched. I recall meeting one of my instructors, Dr. Elizabeth Onyango, when I was overwhelmed by the demands of my program, particularly the hands-on experiential learning components that felt quite overwhelming. I also met Erin Pollock, our program coordinator. Both instructors were mothers excelling academically and thankfully, spoke from lived experience, encouraging me to press on. Their support helped me reframe the challenges. Not only did I continue, but I pivoted effectively, taking on volunteer roles and engaging in several meaningful community service projects. My postgraduate experience became more than just an academic pursuit — it evolved into a life-changing journey of resilience, growth, and learning.
What activities did you do outside of your studies?
My first work experience as a research assistant in the School of Public Health was with Dr. Elizabeth Onyango during the 2024 spring break, and it was a deeply impactful introduction to applied public health research. I supported literature reviews, data analysis, and manuscript preparation on pressing public health issues. This role provided me with firsthand exposure to synthesizing evidence for knowledge translation, strengthened my academic writing skills, deepened my understanding of public health research, and affirmed my passion for evidence-informed solutions to complex public health challenges.
What advice would you give to a student considering a public health program?
Come in with a curious mind and a willingness to learn beyond the classroom. Engage with community partners, challenge yourself with diverse practicum opportunities, and take advantage of the school’s rich support network. This program is not just about earning a degree — it’s about shaping your ability to create meaningful change in public health.
What comes next for you?
Building on my experiences in both Nigeria and Canada, I intend to deepen my role in strategic public health initiatives that bridge research and community practice. I am especially passionate about public health research, community engagement, and knowledge mobilization. Ultimately, I hope to influence systems-level change in population health, particularly in underserved populations, through evidence-based research.