Spotlight on Willie L. Brown, Jr. Fellowship Alumni

Environment, Health, and Safety Specialist, Sila Nanotechnologies Inc., UC Berkeley Master of Public Health '22 & Willie L. Brown, Jr. Fellowship Undergraduate Program 

Professional Development: 

Anne Marie Tran, an Environmental Health and Safety Specialist at Sila Nanotechnologies Inc., a battery materials startup, attributes a significant portion of her professional growth to her experience as a fellow in the Willie Brown Fellowship Program. Graduating from San Francisco State University in Spring 2020, Anne Marie's time in the program was pivotal in shaping her career trajectory. Her major in Urban Studies and Planning and her interest in public health and safety guided her decision. Her journey illustrates the transformative power of the Willie Brown Fellowship Program in shaping careers and fostering professional growth.  

During her fellowship, she worked with the programs and policy team at the SF Department of Public Health, where she researched the effects of healthcare policies on San Francisco residents. She attributes her positive professional development and career choices to the fantastic mentorship of her site supervisor and exposure to various teams within the Public Health Department. 

Importance of Networking: 

Networking played a crucial role in Anne Marie’s journey. She highlights the importance of informational interviews and maintaining relationships with supervisors and faculty after the Fellowship, underscoring the lasting impact of these connections. For example, she notes that her supervisor’s recommendation was pivotal in her acceptance into her Master of Public Health Program at UC Berkeley, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, which disrupted traditional networking opportunities. 

Impact on Career and Future Plans: 

The fellowship uniquely equipped Anne Marie to navigate current trends and challenges in her field. Her exposure to public health practices and emergency response work during the fellowship proved invaluable, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Anne Marie credits her time as a Willie Brown Fellow at the SFDPH as crucial preparation for the occupational health internship she later completed with the National Park Service in San Francisco, underscoring her sustained commitment to public health during a critical time. 

Although she now works in the private sector, Anne Marie sees her current role as a stepping stone. "I imagine myself eventually getting back to where the fellowship placed me," she says, expressing her long-term goal of returning to a local or state government position. Her experiences in both the public and private sectors gives her a unique perspective and skill set that she plans to leverage in her future career. 

Advice for Prospective Students: 

For students considering the fellowship, Anne Marie's advice is clear: "Be curious and enthusiastic about experiencing new things." She encourages fellows to take advantage of their placement, even if it's not in a subject area or field they imagine their career to focus on in the future. "Everyone has a different professional journey, so keep your mind open as you network and remember that you should create your own learning opportunities"; she advises.