Alumni Spotlight: Chiamaka Agali, MPH '26
Supporting refugees and displaced communities has been a driving force throughout Chiamaka Agali's life, shaping her education, career, and most recently a research project focused on strengthening maternal mental health care for refugee mothers in Jordan.
Born in Lagos, Nigeria, and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Agali developed an early passion for working with newcomer populations. She pursued a bachelor's degree in Medical Anthropology at Stanford University, where she completed a summer ethnography with the Center for Refugees and Immigrants (CERI), a refugee organization in Oakland. After graduation and working as a program coordinator at the University of California, Davis Cross Cultural Center, she joined the International Rescue Committee as a virtual events manager. There, she oversaw the production of CORE's Settle In live events, educational programs designed to help people navigate life in the United States.
When she arrived at the Geisel School of Medicine's Master of Public Health program, Agali knew she wanted to deepen her understanding of public health while continuing to focus on displaced populations.
"I came to Geisel knowing I wanted to apply for a Fulbright," she said. "I connected with the Fellowships Office right away because I knew I needed guidance on the process."
Working closely with her Dartmouth mentors, Agali transformed an early research concept into a public health proposal. With support from Associate Dean Dr. Alicia Battle and MPH Program Director Roland Lamb, MPH, she refined her project into a mixed-methods study examining maternal mental health among refugee mothers in Jordan.
"Dr. Battle helped me strengthen my proposal so that it could become a mixed-methods public health study," Agali explained. "Beyond the technical assistance, several of my courses helped me think through my research, while professors connected me to individuals with expertise related to my topic and the region."
Her proposed Fulbright research, conducted in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Jordan and Dr. Khitam Mohammad at Jordan University of Science and Technology, will explore the integration of maternal mental health services for refugee mothers in Jordan. The project seeks to better understand the current landscape of care, pilot a community-based intervention for a small cohort of mothers, and develop recommendations that can inform standardized practices for Jordan's Ministry of Health.
While Jordan will be a new setting, Agali's MPH experience has already provided valuable experiences. Through funding from Dartmouth's Center for Global Health Equity, she completed a co-designed, community-based internship in Abuja, Nigeria, where she partnered with Naza Agape to train community health workers in peer-to-peer mental health support for internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.
"While Nigeria is not Jordan, and the experience was much shorter, it gave me new perspectives that I'll carry with me into my work there."
Looking back, Agali says one of the greatest surprises of her MPH experience was discovering just how much she enjoys public health.
"When I came to Geisel, I didn't know much about public health," she reflected. "I've come to realize how much I love it, and I plan to build a career as a leader in refugee, migrant, and displaced health."
During her time at Dartmouth, Agali intentionally centered many of her assignments on displaced populations, allowing her to deepen her expertise while strengthening her ability to communicate public health challenges from multiple perspectives. Outside the program, she also found meaningful opportunities to stay connected to her passion by volunteering with SHARe, an Upper Valley organization dedicated to welcoming and supporting newcomers.
For incoming MPH students, Agali encourages curiosity, initiative, and intentionality.
"Make the most of the program," she advised. "If you have an interest, reach out! People are incredibly kind and willing to connect you with others. Your network can grow if you remain open."
She also encourages students to think strategically about their time at Dartmouth.
"Build your portfolio. Know your end goal and work backwards based on what you want to get out of your education."
And when it's time to step away from coursework, Agali has one recommendation that comes without hesitation.
"Get maple creemees! I already miss them. And don't skip the fall activities. They're some of the best memories you'll make."
As Agali prepares to begin her research in Jordan, she carries with her not only the technical skills and mentorship she found at Dartmouth, but also a renewed sense of purpose. Her journey reflects the power of combining public health, community partnership, and global engagement to improve the health and well-being of communities around the world.
Written By: Mia Soucy
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