A Passion for Health Promotion

For Jazzmyn Hollister, a second-year MPH student with the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, public health has always been rooted in a simple yet powerful idea: helping communities thrive. This spring 2026, she will join a network of more than 10,000 alumni from UTHealth Houston School of Public Health who embrace this same mission. Hollister's path to health promotion began at home, where she watched her family care for others, value different perspectives, and serve their community with gratitude. Each of these values represents a critical component of health promotion, which has been ingrained in her life.   

After completing her bachelor's in public health at the University of Texas at Austin, Hollister worked as an educator where she saw firsthand how teachers shape students’ lives. Through this experience, she learned about connection, compassion, and a deep belief in the power of prevention to help students succeed and lead healthier futures.  

This commitment is reflected in her pursuit of a master's degree and in her research. Hollister's global health experience took her to Tarija, Bolivia, where she witnessed the long-lasting impact of Chagas disease on families and communities.  During her practicum abroad, she listened to community members and elders, which inspired her to continue this work in the U.S. using a culturally responsive approach. 

Her project explores how experiential, movement-based learning compares to traditional instruction, examining how engagement can influence knowledge and behavior. What began as listening to community members' needs evolved into an IRB-approved pilot study.  

"Listening to community members and elders inspired me to create a game that could teach children prevention in a way that felt active, empowering, and memorable," shared Hollister. "That experience showed me how powerful culturally tailored education can be in improving long-term health outcomes."  

With support from faculty mentors, such as Christine Markham, PhD, chair of the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, she advanced the project into an IRB-approved pilot study that blends movement, play, and learning—an achievement she considers one of her proudest milestones. 

"The school gave me both the tools and confidence to transform an idea into meaningful research," Hollister said on the influence of her mentors. "I've been challenged to think critically and believe in my work. That's made all the difference," she said.  

This summer, she will take the next step in her career as a Public Health Research Intern with the National Institute on Aging under its Summer Trainee in Aging Research program, where she hopes to explore how research can support healthy aging across the lifespan. After graduation, she plans to pursue work in program development, evaluation, and community-based research, with a focus on global health and health equity—and one day, pursue a Doctor of Public Health degree.