In search of adventure, Makenzi Perkins traveled to Indonesia as part of Bali Institute's Global Leadership Adventures program in the summer of 2023. This trip was the springboard to finding her passion in global health before making her way to UNLV School of Public Health.
In Bali, she was immersed in addressing public health issues on a variety of levels. She designed and delivered workshops on nutrition, exercise, and hygiene to local youth in their language; prepared and distributed food to landfill workers who did not have access to an adequate food supply; conducted and recorded dengue inspections; and assisted local medical students in offering free neighborhood medical checks. Perkins saw firsthand the health disparities across the globe and she wanted to do more.
Though Perkins had opportunities to leave Nevada for college, she stayed close to home, earning her associate degree from the College of Southern Nevada before discovering UNLV was exactly where she needed to be to achieve her goals.
Exploration and Research Collide
In 2024, Perkins studied abroad in Costa Rica through UNLV Global and found her way into public health research as part of her independent study project, “Using Biomimicry to Understand the Biodiversity Within Us and the Planet.”
She drew the connection between the need for a diverse microbiome in the human body and how the Earth also needs biodiversity to thrive. This research has since been highlighted in several of her public health classes.
In the summer of 2024, Perkins participated in the Nevada INBRE Research Bootcamp where she studied human stool samples to understand the microbial composition of study participants.
Her research led to the question, “Do those who self-report food intolerances and sensitivities have significant differences in their microbial composition compared to those who do not?” Her findings were presented at the Nevada INBRE Research Symposium.
Making the Most of Public Health
Currently, Perkins is a global health intern for UNLV's Department of Global and Environmental Health. Her passion for making a difference in far-flung places continues in her role on the team, where she synthesizes data from research conducted with global partners in Ghana and the Philippines to support public health interventions and increase awareness of heavy metal exposure.
Beyond her research endeavors, Perkins has served as an undergraduate peer mentor for public health students and as a volunteer global ambassador for the UNLV Global program to help connect international students with resources on campus. She also was part of the UNLV Study Abroad Club and completed the Grad Rebel Advantage program.
What’s Next
Before she turns her tassel and completes her undergraduate degree, Perkins will deliver an address her fellow graduates during one of UNLV's 2026 Commencement ceremonies.
She says two things have become clear: Choosing UNLV was the right choice, and she couldn’t be more confident that it’s where she wants to pursue her master’s degree in public health. She is proud to be one of the first students to be accepted into the UNLV's newly launched global health program.
