Shenandoah Student Honored at American Public Health Association Conference
Taylor Reynolds ’25 shared knowledge about maternal and child health
By Natalie Gales ’25
In November, Shenandoah University student Taylor Reynolds ’25 joined Department Chair and Professor of Public Health Audra Gollenberg, Ph.D, at the American Public Health Association (APHA) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C. Reynolds, a student in Shenandoah’s public health program, was invited to present at the Greg Alexander Outstanding Student Oral Session, and she was the only undergraduate student to do so.
The award session honors the legacy of Dr. Greg Alexander, a prominent researcher and mentor. Each year, several students are invited to present their research in the maternal and child health field, which Dr. Alexander specialized in.
In order to be eligible, students must submit an abstract of their research to be scored by APHA’s reviewers and conference planners. For the Greg Alexander Outstanding Student Oral Session, the five abstracts with the highest scores are recognized as award winners, and the students are invited to present at the APHA Annual Meeting.
Reynolds’ research project, “Preconception Health and Care: Exploring the Knowledge and Perceptions of Predominantly Hispanic/Latinx, Free-Clinic Patients,” was among the chosen presentations for the 2025 award session. Most of the other award winners were doctoral students.
Reynolds collaborated with Dr. Gollenberg to develop her research over the course of a year. She took part in the College of Arts & Sciences’ Summer Scholars program in 2025, and she polished her public speaking skills through numerous mock presentations. Looking ahead, she hopes to publish the manuscript she wrote with Gollenberg.
“I am thrilled with Taylor’s growth as a young scholar,” said Gollenberg. “I know that she is eager to continue working in research to advance the field after she graduates in December 2025.”
For other students who want to learn more about research, Gollenberg suggests that they connect with campus resources to explore their options. “I encourage students who are interested in engaging in hands-on projects to speak with faculty in their departments to see what opportunities might be available! You never know what you’ll find until you ask.”
