Lindsay Hudson, '14

Lindsay Hudson, ’14, is passionate about public health. She is also passionate about making a difference and experiencing different cultures.

An internship in Tanzania this summer gave the leadership studies and healthcare and society dual major an opportunity to combine the three.

The internship, which she completed over the course of six weeks beginning in May, was through Tanzania Millennium Hands Foundation and fulfilled her Jepson internship requirement. It was also the perfect way for her to go abroad during college.  

“Studying abroad in the fall wasn’t an option for me because of what I do on campus,” says Hudson, who is an associate chair for new student orientation. “So interning abroad was the perfect solution.”

Reading the 2011 One Book, One Campus book selection helped her figure out that she wanted to “go to a country where I could really make a difference. I had been lucky enough to travel in the past but Africa, Tanzania in particular, has always been a dream of mine,” says Hudson.

Although she was originally assigned to work with girls who have HIV or family members with HIV, her assignment changed as a result of her academic background.

“I had recently taken a healthcare management class,” says Hudson. “So I was asked to work in a global village hospital and analyze their system to let them know what they could do better and more efficiently.”

She was also asked to do everything from mop floors to deliver a baby.

“One of the biggest challenges was to realize that roles are fluid there,” says Hudson. “So one day [in the delivery room] someone said, ‘okay, you have watched us do this. Now it’s your turn.’ Delivering a baby was definitely one of the scariest things I have ever done. But it’s something I’ll never forget.”

Stepping into challenging situations is something Hudson says she feels more confident doing thanks to her leadership studies classes. She could also "see leadership theories playing out firsthand.”

The two majors, as well as a minor in biology complement each other well, she says.

“When it comes to healthcare, you can’t just look at a problem and solve it one way. You have to be able to look at the situation from various angles. My leadership studies major allows me to analyze situations from diverse perspectives to formulate practical solutions.”