The Department of Public Health hosted their annual MPH Alumni Panel on October 27, 2023 as part of Homecoming festivities. Each year alumni from our MPH programs are invited to speak to current MPH students in a panel format. In addition, students, faculty, and other MPH alumni are encouraged to engage in meaningful discussions during a meet and greet dinner. In an effort to continue to engage more of our alumni in this event, the department also offers an online Zoom option for students and alumni to attend.
This event serves as a valuable platform for alumni to reconnect, share their experiences, and provide mentorship to the next generation of public health professionals.
Learn About our Panelists
Mariana Little (Martinez), MPH, CHES
Class of 2019
Mariana Little is a Program Analyst for Texas Health Resources within the Community Health Improvement Program. She earned her MPH from Baylor University in the Spring of 2019. Mariana is experienced in applying data visualization to various programs in the nonprofit realm as well as in the local health department setting. She has experience as an infectious and chronic disease epidemiologist in both a local health department and state/regional health department. Likewise, Mariana has familiarity in conducting program evaluation, community health needs assessments, and data analysis. She enjoys helping others improve their ability to communicate data more efficiently and effectively.
Meagan GarMelo, MPH
Class of 2022
Meagan GarMelo is a two-time graduate from Baylor University. She holds her Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Masters of Public Health in Community Health Science. Her areas of interest include health equity, mental health, and policy advocacy. She is an outdoor enthusiast passionate about community engagement and sustainability for a more equitable and livable Waco. Meagan also works with GTG Outdoors, a local Waco non-profit organization she and her husband founded in January 2021. The mission of the organization is to advance health equity across underserved populations through inclusive outdoor experiences for the communities within Central Texas.
Sudeep Neupane, MPH
Class of 2023
Sudeep Neupane graduated from Baylor University with a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology in May 2023. While at Baylor, Sudeep worked with qualitative and quantitative research on obesity, mental health, and tuberculosis, including an NIH-funded project, where he analyzed large nationally representative datasets and published manuscripts.
He is the first-ever Research Fellow of the Office of Border Public Health(OBPH) team at the Texas Department of Health and Human Services. As the Interim Epidemiologist at Texas DSHS, Sudeep is responsible for performing senior-level epidemiological work including border health epidemiology and surveillance activities and management and analysis.
One of his favorite countries is Mexico, and he is bi-lingual and bi-literate in Spanish and English. During his leisure time, Sudeep enjoys playing soccer, listening to podcasts, hiking, running, and learning new things.
Ashley Bearden, MPH
Class of 2018
Ashley Bearden is a dedicated advocate for health equity, accessibility, and community well-being. With a strong educational foundation from Baylor University, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Science Studies with a minor in Business Administration, as well as a Master of Public Health in Community Health.
Ashley has been guided by a passion for addressing health disparities, advancing global health and global surgery initiatives, and gaining experience in the field of epidemiology. Since 2019, Ashley has served as the Executive Director of Waco AHEC (Area Health Education Center), where she orchestrates the AHEC team, shapes programming and curriculum development, manages grants, and mentors a dynamic cohort of public health interns. Through her leadership, she aims to steer Waco AHEC towards making a profound impact on the health and well-being of the local Waco community.
Ms. Bearden strongly believes in work-life balance, so outside of work she enjoys boxing, hiking with her dog, and traveling.