Missouri State University international graduate student Shivani Tupdale never imagined she would stand out in a new country.
She grew up in a small town in India and moved to Mumbai in 2015 for high school and later dental college. After graduating in 2023, she spent a year preparing for her next step.
In fall 2024, she began her Master of Public Health (MPH) at Missouri State, where she is already gaining hands-on experience and earning recognition.
Finding purpose beyond dentistry
During her dental studies, the COVID-19 pandemic sparked Tupdale’s curiosity about bigger health challenges.
“I kept wondering why some groups were affected more than others and why developing a vaccine was so hard,” Tupdale said.
“Those questions opened my eyes to public health, where I saw a chance to make a broader impact.”
Why MSU
Guided by her passion for public health, she sought a graduate program with approachable professors and an inspiring campus.
She also asked friends studying in the U.S. for help to explore options. As an international student, she knew rankings were not the only factor. She wanted a quality education with affordability, scholarships and a welcoming environment — and Missouri State stood out.
For international students like Tupdale, a program with the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics designation was another key factor. It extends Optional Practical Training to three years after graduation, providing more time to gain valuable skills and experience to bring back home.
“This program gives me the support and opportunities I need to follow my passion,” she said.
Experience with MPH program
Tupdale has found the MPH program to be both practical and inspiring. Courses like epidemiology, biostatistics and health policy gave her the foundation she wanted.
She especially values the guidance of Professor Dr. Melinda Novik.
“She gives every student an equal chance and encourages us to think critically in every assignment,” Tupdale said.
Group projects and case studies helped her gain confidence, connect with classmates from diverse backgrounds and grow as a future public health professional.
Learning by serving communities
This summer, Tupdale completed an internship, where she worked with the community engagement and policy team at Jackson County Public Health.
Her main role was helping install Narcan boxes and fentanyl test strip stations to reduce overdose deaths in eastern Jackson County. Narcan is a lifesaving medicine that can reverse opioid overdoses while fentanyl test strips help identify dangerous drugs. Providing these items for free gave community members access to resources they cannot afford at pharmacies.
Tupdale worked with firefighters, city officials and police to raise awareness and make the supplies available in key public spaces. She also shadowed staff in the epidemiology department. She learned how disease surveillance guides policy and contributed to data analysis comparing overdose fatality trends over two years.
“Doing an internship in person taught me far more than a class,” she said.
Recognition through scholarship
This fall, Tupdale was selected for the Edna Dell Weinel Scholarship from the Missouri Public Health Association. The $1,000 award will help cover her tuition costs.
She first learned about the scholarship from Dr. Robert Niezgoda, assistant professor of public health. He encouraged her to apply and wrote a recommendation. Angela Watson, her internship supervisor at Jackson County, also supported her application. Their guidance played a key role in her success.
On Sept. 24, she accepted her award at the Joint Public Health Conference in Columbia, Missouri.
“The best part of the conference was realizing the power of in-person connections,” Tupdale said. “Those connections allowed me to learn about other existing health departments in Missouri and projects I hadn’t known before.”
Stepping into newborn screening leadership
After graduation, Tupdale will step into a new role as the newborn blood screening program manager at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment in Topeka, Kansas.
She will lead the newborn screening program within the Bureau of Family Health and supervise a team of three. In this position, her work will focus on daily program operations, data oversight and statewide coordination to support stronger follow-up systems for infants across Kansas.
