Leaving behind her home country of Colombia, Mafe Parra embarks on a new academic endeavor to shape the future of public health as a doctoral student in the Department of Health Behavior at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Gillings School of Global Public Health. She joins the Global Food Research Program (GFRP) this fall under the advisership of GFRP faculty Marissa Hall.
“It’s exciting! This is the first time I have moved by myself,” said Parra. “In Colombia, it is not very common to leave your family’s house, it is tradition to stay together. So, this is very challenging and interesting.”
In addition to her role as a researcher on Colombia’s food policy project, Mafe supported advocacy efforts by multiple civil society organizations in the country promoting food policies such as front-of-package warning labels and sugar-sweetened beverage taxes to prevent non-communicable, chronic diseases.
“It has been very exciting to witness the work of social organizations in promoting public policies in Colombia,” said Parra. “The passion of each of their members to defend their ideals, despite not being the most popular, as well as their ability to mobilize even when the opponent is much stronger, is admirable. The experience this project has left me with is invaluable. I have been able to experience firsthand what it means to produce research that has a direct impact on public policy and public health.”
After spending time working with GFRP’s Colombian research partners, Mafe began to feel very connected to working with evidence-based policies. This motivated her to continue her graduate studies at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she could see her research directly impact policies and build on the foundations of her master’s studies. Mafe hopes to make an impact on childhood obesity and hunger, especially in Colombia, to prevent chronic disease and promote healthier habits.
Mafe studied psychology as an undergraduate student then completed her Master of Public Health and Master of Public Policy at the University of the Andes in Bogotá, Colombia. While there, she started working in collaboration with GFRP under the guidance of Luis Fernando Gomez, MD, MPH and Mercedes Mora, ND, MSc, research professors at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and National University of Colombia, respectively.
“It’s disheartening to see such high levels of hunger in Colombia despite its incredible biodiversity. My research aims to address this issue and make a meaningful impact across various regions, whether urban or rural. Effective governmental actions are essential for improving the health of these populations.”
Mafe is excited to explore North Carolina in her free time. She is eager to discover the best nature spots and hiking trails in the area to feel more connected to her new home. She also looks forward to exploring American culture and visiting other nearby destinations.
Mafe plans also to travel home when she can to visit friends and family including her parents, siblings, grandmother, partner, and dogs Ollie and Tom.
