Jada Allen

Public Policy, Global Health, & Health Policy

Hello! My name is Jada Allen. I’m from Lumberton, North Carolina and a citizen of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. I’m majoring in Public Policy, minoring in Global Health and pursuing the Health Policy Certificate. My deep-seated passion for public health, health policy, and law is rooted in health disparities I’ve witnessed in my own community.
    
I’m involved in a collection of organizations on and off Duke’s campus, all of which provide meaning and value in my academic and personal pursuits. As a Margolis Scholar of Health Policy and Management, I’m on the “Closing the Gap” Bass Connections project. Our research team uses quality improvement methods to improve hypertension outcomes in Durham through collaborating with surrounding outpatient community clinics. I’m involved in advocacy work with the Native American / Indigenous Student Alliance (NAISA) and a sister of Alpha Pi Omega Sorority, Inc., the Native sorority on campus. I serve as an Advocate with the Community Empowerment Fund (CEF), a Durham non-profit that uses person-centered advocacy and financial services to end the racial wealth gap. Most recently, I spent the summer as a Udall Congressional Intern at the Department of Interior, in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, learning how to advance the issues of Tribal Nations under the Biden Administration. 
   
Despite the range of my experiences, my core focus remains on advocating for justice in healthcare and health policy. When I’m not studying or involved in activities on campus, I enjoy catching up on my to-read list, making beadwork, and exploring Durham with friends.