Kohler-Smith asked Eckerd College students about their study abroad experiences and how they connected what they learned in the classroom to their involvement in the field. Maya Chapat, a senior philosophy and international relations student from Kernersville, North Carolina, was traveling to Patagonia, Chile, during the winter semester in January. “my [education] It's so different than America, so it helped me understand why things are the way they are…'' Maya said. “By reading all the books and learning about economics, I was able to understand how Chile works.”
Kohler-Smith had returned to Eckerd on February 5 to discuss her research in international studies, political science, and public health. After graduating with a degree in international studies, Kohler-Smith attended Columbia University and earned a master's degree in public health. From there, she began working in public health education in the United States and abroad, with a particular focus on autism and women's health.
Her most recent project was in Iquitos, Peru, where she was a project coordinator for Prisma ONG, a non-governmental organization working to implement HPV testing in the community to prevent cervical cancer. This program was adopted by the Peruvian government in 2021.
Kohler-Smith visited Eckerd's campus and spoke in a class taught by McAleese, who was her supervisor during her undergraduate days.
