Get to know more about our current cohort of Well-being and Health Outreach Ambassadors (WHOAs). This group of undergraduate students is dedicated to spreading awareness of important college health topics among the student community through outreach events and special projects, including tabling at the USC Farmer’s Market.
Read through the bios below to learn more about each ambassador, listed alphabetically.
Kyra Aligaen is a rising junior studying Occupational Therapy with a minor in International Health, Development, and Social Justice. Her academic pursuits and decision to be a WHOA ambassador are influenced by her passion for advocating for all individuals’ holistic needs and their right to comprehensive and equitable healthcare. At USC, Kyra is involved with the Helenes, the oldest spirit and service-based organization at the university, and serves as an ‘Official Host of USC.” Kyra is also involved with TroyPhilippines, a Filipino cultural organization where she can celebrate her heritage. Through her involvement and academic interests, she hopes to equip herself with the skills and knowledge to help underrepresented and marginalized populations live more fulfilling lives.
Sanaiya Bhatt is a progressive degree student working towards earning a bachelors of science in global health and masters in health administration. Her passion for wellbeing and health of students and the community have inspired Sanaiya to work with the Red Cross as a blood drive coordinator, commissioner of health at her local community college, and supplemental instructor for calculus. Sanaiya’s value for community involvement have transcended in her work at Student Health, where she has been able to increase awareness in health education, plan activities for students and staff, and work the health corner at farmers markets.
Sophia Dettweiler is a pre-med student passionate about promoting well-being and mental health among students. Outside of her work with Student Health, Sophia is an active member of Blueprints For Pangaea and a math tutor for Teach For LA. Sophia is studying Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and a progressive degree in Global Medicine, with expected graduation in 2026.
Yoonsik Jung is an undergraduate student majoring in Pharmacology and Drug Development at USC Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and minoring in Health Policy. Outside of his involvement in USC Student Health, Yoonsik is involved in the pre-pharmacy society and is a research assistant at the Department of Regulatory and Quality Sciences. He is committed to advancing health equity, promoting mental health awareness, and improving health communication through his education.
Chia Okwaraibekwe is a passionate second-year Global Health major at the Keck School of Medicine with a deep interest in health care, health promotion, and health policy. She has volunteered and worked with physicians at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, conducting research on community health and organizing presentations and events that provided free health resources to families in the community. With her dedication, hard work, and strong communication skills, Chia is committed to making a positive impact on the world around her as she pursues her academic and professional goals in the healthcare field.
Coming from Atlantic City, NJ, Kenneth Phung (he/him) is a Class of ’25 undergraduate who is pursuing a major in Biological Sciences (Biotechnology). Kenneth’s academic and professional interests lie in the fields of public health, nutrition, and biotechnology. In addition to coursework, he is involved in regenerative medicine and obesity research, the American Red Cross, USC’s International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) team, Curam Mag, Beta Rho Chi Biotech Society, Rock Climbing Club, and Viet Student Association.
Hallie Yong (she/her/hers) is a fourth year pre-med Global Health, B.S. student with minors in Natural Sciences and East Asian Languages and Cultures. She started working for the Student Health Center as a communications assistant, creating content for social media, and became a WHOA in Fall 2022. Aside from her work as a WHOA, Hallie is the co-director of Keck Student Ambassadors and co-president of USC Medical, Educational Missions, and Outreach (MEMO). She also volunteers as a research assistant in a study on the youth appeal of e-cigarette usage on social media and at the REACH Lab in studying the relationship between emotion and physical activity.
Public Engagement Team Leader
Gray Mandabach is a first-year Master of Public Administration Student in the Sol Price School of Public Policy. In May, he graduated from Auburn University majoring in Political Science and minoring in Public Relations. During his four years at Auburn, he held numerous leadership roles in student organizations within the Department of Student Involvement. These previous experiences influenced his desire to become the Public Engagement Team Leader for the WHOA’s when he arrived to USC this Fall.
Other than his work with the WHOAs, Gray is also on the Executive Board of Mentorship for an Accessible Price. MAP, as it’s more widely known, seeks to help prospective USC Price Applicants through the application process and help them gain scholarships to make USC more accessible. Through this role, he hopes to assist the WHOA’s in their mission to create a healthy, inclusive environment for all USC students
SPOTLIGHT PROJECT:
The USC Student Cookbook, a first at USC, is a collaborative effort spearheaded by the WHOA team, and is created by USC students for USC students. Many reflect the “taste of home” of our diverse study body, and are intended to be budget-friendly for college students. All recipes have been reviewed by USC registered dieticians.
