ASU grad and COVID contact tracer shifts focus from sexual violence to epidemiology
ASU graduate and Glendale, Arizona, native Michelle Coen dedicated much of her college experience to making sure Sun Devils know how to stay safe and healthy in their relationships. And she plans to dedicate her career to keeping people healthy on a global scale as an epidemiologist.
Coen, who graduated in spring 2020 with a degree in global health, worked as a peer educator at the ASU Sexual and Relationship Violence Prevention program. She was also a member of the Sun Devil Movement for Violence Prevention and served as an advisor for the Sun Devil Support Network. Coen and her team members would set up tables around the Tempe campus offering information and resources about sexual health and safety issues on campus.
In addition to this, Coen often led trainings aimed at teaching other Sun Devils how to be proactive bystanders to help prevent sexual and relationship violence. She has helped lead trainings for organizations such as intramural sports teams and incoming first-year students at Barrett, The Honors College.
ASU grad Michelle Coen
In addition to helping educate her ASU community, Coen worked to develop a professional career where she can continue to help people. She interned at the Arizona Department of Health Services at the Sexually Transmitted Disease unit.
In addition to her work with these various organizations, Coen was also a member of ASU’s Quidditch team. Now pursuing her Master of Health Science at Johns Hopkins University, Coen plans to become an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has become a certified COVID-19 contact tracer. As she prepared for her move to Baltimore, Coen shared some of her advice for other Sun Devils.
Q: What was your “aha” moment, when you realized you wanted to study the field you majored in?
A: When I was a freshman in high school, I had to do a four-year planning thing with my counselor in biology class, and they made us take this quiz about how much money we wanted to earn, what kind of house we wanted to live in and what kind of family we wanted, those kinds of things. Then it would give you a list of like three or four jobs they thought you’d be good for.
We got a catalog of jobs, and after we were done with our tests, we had to go through and find three jobs in the catalog we were interested in and write about them. I started scrolling until I hit a job that I didn’t know, and that was epidemiologist. It was the summation of everything I’ve ever been interested in.
I think a lot of people change what they want to do and change their major because they try to take what they are interested in and stuff it into a career. I had what I was interested in, and I found a career that kind of just fit everything in like a lock and a key. I didn’t have to change anything I wanted. When I was looking for majors, I was looking for something that would seem to put me on the path to epidemiology. Global health sounded a lot like epidemiology.
Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you, that changed your perspective?
A: When I first entered ASU, to graduate as a global health major, you had to have had a study abroad under your belt. I knew I wanted a summer study abroad, and I knew I wanted something hands-on.
There are only two summer study-abroads. When I was a freshman, I decided to try to improve my chances of getting into the programs. I took Dr. Damien Salamone’s HIV/AIDS: Science, Behavior and Society course and I think everything I learned in that class astonished me. I learned about the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS, I learned about other sexually transmitted infections, and that for me was the moment that I realized that what I wanted to do was sexual health education.
Q: Why did you choose ASU?
A: For me, it came down to ASU versus Drexel. Honestly, I knew I was going to go to some form of graduate education and I couldn't stomach the idea of spending so much money on my undergrad and my graduate school. ... ASU essentially paid for my tuition, so it just made sense. It also didn’t hurt that I’m from Arizona, so I was able to spend these four years staying close to my family. I got to be around my parents and actually be roommates with my cousin. It helped a lot being in state.
Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?
A: There were so many. Dr. Salamone taught me sexual health and wellness, Dr. Gaughan taught me, Dr. Jehn taught me about epidemiology and data collection. Dr. Fong taught two human event classes for me, as well as an honors class last year that I loved, and he wrote me some amazing recommendation letters. I think all of them really helped me develop into the student that I am.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?
A: I always like to emphasize that it’s OK to go out and have fun and have a good time as long as you’re not sacrificing your work for that. One thing my mom has always said to me is “life is for making mistakes, so it’s OK if we make a million mistakes, as long as we learn from them.”
Also recognize that who you are is also a reflection of who your friends are. It’s really important to surround yourself with good people if you want to do good and be good. That’s what I always encourage.
Q: What was your favorite spot on campus, whether for studying, meeting friends or just thinking about life?
A: That changed from year to year. My freshman year, I loved the Social Sciences building, the little atrium. It was beautiful and the weather was always nice; I felt like I was enchanted. Sophomore and junior year, I really liked the Noble Library; it was the perfect place for me to study. This year, I really enjoyed Hayden.
Q. How has your education at ASU benefitted you in your first few months post-grad?
A. As a global health major at ASU, I learned many skills that have helped me during the COVID-19 crisis, and I have even become a certified COVID-19 contact tracer.
Q. Given this unsure time in history, how have your plans for this new chapter of life changed?
A. I will still be attending Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the fall, and I moved to Baltimore in August. Unfortunately, the move was not as planned and much of my fall semester education will be online.
Q. How have you been utilizing this time post-grad?
A. I have been applying for jobs, loans and scholarships. I found a home in Baltimore and prepared for my move. I have also gotten into baking, embroidering, camping, hiking and kayaking. I have been trying to use this time to exercise more and take better care of myself.
Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?
A: I would tackle the environment and climate change, because our planet needs it right now.