By Sara A. Mayo
Master of Public Health candidate Alexa Rivers has been selected as a recipient of the Perri Family Fellowship award for Fall 2026.
As part of a generous donation made to the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions by the Perri family, the Perri Family Fellowship award honors a new or continuing graduate student who has been the first in their family to attend a college or university at the undergraduate level.
As a first-generation college student at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, Rivers is a Combination Bachelor of Public Health/Master of Public Health student who focuses her studies on population health management.
“I wanted to pursue a program that would allow me to understand healthcare from both a systems and human perspective,” said Rivers. “UF’s population health management track stood out because it blends the principles of public health with population-level analysis, policies, messaging and solutions.”
As one who also lives with Type 1 diabetes, Rivers’ studies have been propelled by the very disease which can at times make pursuing academics challenging.
“Living with Type 1 diabetes has presented me with challenges and setbacks throughout my academic journey,” Rivers explains, “but those experiences have also shaped my dedication and passion for public health. They have given me a personal understanding of barriers people can face within our healthcare system and strengthened my resolve to advance health equity and improve the way healthcare is delivered.”
After Rivers graduates with her degree, she plans to pursue a career in healthcare administration in order to focus on improving chronic disease management, operational efficiency and equitable access to care within U.S. healthcare systems. She also hopes to pursue a Ph.D. so she can contribute to teaching and mentoring the next generation of public health professionals.
Learn more about Alexa here: Meet the Students of PHHP: Alexa Rivers, B.P.H./M.P.H.
Want to learn more?
If you’d like to learn more about PHHP’s Master of Public Health with a concentration in population health management, click here.