Fourteen days after earning her degree from the University of Kentucky, Morgan Brooke will board a plane bound for Paraguay to begin her two-year assignment with the Peace Corps.

The recent College of Public Health graduate is set to serve as a public health promoter, partnering with local health workers, schools, and families to address challenges such as malnutrition, nutrition access, and mental health.

Brooke said joining the Peace Corps has been her dream since childhood.

For her, this next chapter represents more than a post-graduation adventure; it is the realization of years of preparation to serve communities around the world.

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Raised in Rowan County, Kentucky, with summers spent in Pikeville, Brooke grew up witnessing how geography and opportunity are intertwined. She said these early experiences opened her eyes to disparities in health and access that exist in rural settings.

“I think that every kid deserves the foundation to success, and not every kid’s given that,” she said. “So, especially in these rural communities, even underserved communities anywhere, I think that’s something that’s really impacted me.”

That desire to help others deepened after a trip to Ghana following high school. During her time there, Brooke taught English, math, science, and physical education in a small village. The experience led her to rethink her career goals and expand her idea of what it means to make a difference in health.

“After leaving, I knew it was more of a policy and community-level impact that I wanted to make,” she said. “So that’s when I found out about public health.”

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Enrolling at the University of Kentucky’s College of Public Health, Brooke found a learning environment that encouraged both professional development and personal growth. She said becoming part of the UK community helped her build confidence as a first-generation college student and inspired her to serve in ways that create lasting change.

“I think that UK grew me more as a person than anything,” she said. “I’ve become a better friend and a better leader. UK, and especially the College of Public Health, has taught me the power of compassion and just really put me outside my comfort zone to go into the community to meet these families where they are, which ultimately helped me find my voice in policymaking.”

Throughout her time on campus, Brooke said she benefited from the guidance of professors and mentors who supported her academic and personal journey. Among her most meaningful classes was one taught by Sarah Cprek, Ph.D., which explored adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs.

“Something that’s really resonated with me in the College of Public Health is learning about ACEs, just how your childhood experiences really shape your adult health later in life,” she said.

That concept strengthened Brooke’s understanding of how social factors influence health outcomes and affirmed her passion for prevention-focused work that begins within communities themselves. She also credited her global public health course led by lecturer Zane Maguet for helping her prepare for her upcoming assignment in Paraguay.

“I’m currently taking global public health, and we’re learning about malnutrition and access to health care in developing countries, and that’s exactly what I’m going be doing for two years,” she said.

Brooke said her coursework in global health and communication has helped her learn how to translate data and complex issues into real-world, culturally relevant strategies.

“Public health has really given me the knowledge and the practical skills with issues like malnutrition, HIV/AIDS awareness and overall community health,” she said. “I also have built experiences through health communication, how to take complex topics like HIV prevention and nutrition and make them understandable and relevant for different audiences.”

That approach will guide her work in Paraguay, where she will collaborate closely with communities to identify their own goals and develop sustainable health programs.

“I think from the College of Public Health, my biggest takeaway is health isn’t just about data and stats,” she said. “It’s more about connecting with the people and going to the community and meeting them where they’re at.”

Brooke said she plans to approach her service with humility and an open mind. “It’s not my job to fix all of Paraguay in one community,” she said. “My role is to engage with the community and understand what they need from me — not to come in with assumptions or outside perspectives as an American, but to learn from them.”

As she prepares to live with a host family and immerse herself in Paraguayan culture, Brooke said she is looking forward to both personal and professional growth. “Personally, I hope to grow and step outside my comfort zone,” she said. “I want to adapt to a new culture and build meaningful relationships with my community.”

Her goals extend beyond her term of service. Professionally, Brooke said she hopes her experience will enhance her skills in program development, grant work, health communication, and building sustainable resources. Above all, she wants to leave a lasting foundation for communities to continue improving their health.

“My biggest hope is that even after I leave, the community keeps growing and improving its health, supported by the programs and foundation I helped create,” she said.