After graduating with a degree in nutrition from the University of the Philippines, Jasmine Ducusin knew Boise State’s Master of Public Health program could help her grow her skills in public health.
From research to grant writing, Ducusin had gained a variety of skills as a research assistant and campus leader.
Ducusin will graduate with her Master of Public Health (MPH) degree this spring. Read on to learn more about Ducusin’s graduate experience.
Q: What originally brought you to Boise State and the School of Public and Population Health?
A: I came to Boise State because the MPH program was a strong fit for what I wanted to learn and do in public health. Apart from growing my research skills, I also wanted to learn about tools, models, and strategies used for public health programming, and enhance my skills for designing, implementing, and evaluating programs that respond to real public health needs.
Coming here, I learned more than what I was aiming for, including expanding my area of interest not just on nutrition and social determinants of health, but also on school health and prevention science, learning to write grants, developing evidence-based programs for program partners (for Camp Hodia), among others.
Q: What have you enjoyed most about your studies?
A: I enjoyed working with different faculty members for research endeavors and learning alongside my wonderful and supportive cohort from Prevention and Intervention emphasis. The opportunities I had made my studies really fulfilling.
Q: What extracurricular activities made an impact on your experience?
A: Many experiences at Boise State really shaped my time here. During my first year, I had the opportunity to work on a research project with Dr. Schafer’s team that was closely connected to my area of interest.
I also volunteered to do an independent research project with Communities for Youth under Dr. Smith, which helped me strengthen my research skills and gave me the opportunity to work toward publication. That experience opened the door for me to present at the SOPHE Advocacy Conference in Washington, DC, in October 2025. It was my first professional conference presentation, and I am deeply grateful to the School of Public and Population Health for supporting that trip.
Outside of research, I also became involved in the broader Boise State community as an International Student Ambassador. Being part of that space helped me build connections, feel a sense of belonging, and support other international students as they adjusted to life in the US and connected with campus resources.
I also serve as a Council Member for the Student Advisory Council on Graduate Student Advising and Mentoring, where I have had the chance to help make advising and mentoring more inclusive and supportive for students. These experiences helped me grow both as a researcher and a leader, while also giving me a strong sense of community, purpose, and confidence in supporting others.
Q: How has your time in the MPH program broadened your outlook on public health?
A: The MPH program broadened my perspective and helped me think about public health in a more critical and systematic way. It challenged my thinking in many ways and pushed me to look beyond surface-level issues to better understand the larger systems and factors shaping health outcomes. More than gaining technical skills, I also gained confidence in doing rigorous public health work, particularly in research, evaluation, and programming.
Q: What are you most looking forward to post-graduation?
A: I am excited to be traveling with my family in the US after graduation!