January 17, 2025 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu

A first-generation college student and first-generation Mexican-American, Dayana Sandoval says she chose USC because the university believed in her first. She leaned into the support she felt from Arnold School advisors and students she met and knew she could do anything as a member of the TRIO Opportunity Scholars Program. There was just one thing missing.

“I realized there wasn’t really a space on campus that was solely for students passionate about public health issues related to Latinos or even for Latinos interested in a career in health care,” Sandoval says. “After learning about the history of the Latino Caucus for Public Health, I realized that as a student chapter, we could be a part of something bigger, a larger network with professionals that have walked and trailblazed the paths we are on now.”

She launched the chapter – a part of the American Public Health Association and the second student chapter in the country – in June of 2024 and began planning and promoting events.

“The Latino Caucus for Public Health is important because it has been a safe and welcoming space for Latino students and allies interested in public health and health care,” says Sandoval, who hosted voter and bone marrow registration drives and organized guest speakers and service events during the chapter’s first semester. “I am looking forward to the future of the organization and the events that will contribute to our professional development, foster a sense of belonging, and advocate for Latino public health.”

Originally from North Charleston, Sandoval grew up in a diverse community of immigrants. She witnessed many of them working tirelessly and selflessly in construction or hospitality cleaning jobs to provide for their children.

“Their work ethic often meant putting aside their own health – issues like high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity,” Sandoval says. “I decided from a young age that although it would not compare to what they have done, I wanted to give back to the village that raised me.”  

Studying public health is part of that plan, and so is a master’s degree in health policy. Long term, Sandoval plans to influence policy to reduce health disparities among Latino/Hispanic immigrant and mixed-status families.

Among her many club, volunteer and service activities, Sandoval is a University 101 Peer Leader and an Arnold School Ambassador. She found mentors in many of her public health instructors, like clinical associate professor Kara Montgomery, who has provided a safe space for her advisee to confide her first-generation experiences. TRIO faculty Shanna Robinson, Florencia Cornet and Pinkney Epps have also played important roles in her success.

“Their encouragement has been a constant reminder that these four years are not a race, but a marathon, and their guidance has profoundly shaped my professional journey and personal growth,” she says of her mentors. “These faculty make me feel so seen, so empowered, and have shown me I could do everything I wanted at USC.”

Outside the classroom, Sandoval has delighted in what she calls a roller coaster of wonderful surprises. She has loved the Hispanic/Latino community at USC, including the support they receive from the Office of Multicultural Affairs. Basketball season – especially the tradition of jumping in the T-Coop fountain (twice! So far) after winning the women’s basketball championship – has been a highlight of her college experience.

Sandoval will take her knowledge and experiences with her after graduating this spring. With the solid public health background offered by her major, she feels confident about her understanding of anatomy and physiology, epidemiology and chronic disease prevention, health care management and health economics.

“I believe I have a strong foundation for a career as a policy maker that will collaborate and make data-driven decisions,” she says.

---