Gloria Walker-Hoover

Student Ambassador


Gloria is a senior Public Health Science major with a concentration in Global Health. She’s from Springfield, Massachusetts. She was a Semester in the City Fellow in Fall 2023 as a Food Access Intern at Mattapan Food & Fitness Coalition (MFFC).

On campus, she is a member of NAACP and Model United Nations. She enjoys the Sylvan Snack Bar on campus, a student-run business. This year, she hopes to visit two new countries.

Q: How did you find out about SITC & how did you know it was for you?

A: “At UMass Dartmouth, I initially learned about SITC as a freshman. After completing my introductory public health course and discovering early on that I had no idea what roles or tasks public health professionals performed, I made the decision to enroll in the program in order to familiarize myself with community-based public health work.”

Q: What are you passionate about?

A: “I've always enjoyed learning about various cultures. I learnt about and served with many public health groups throughout my junior year of study abroad programs in Thailand and Costa Rica.”

Q: What are some of your interests?

A: “Traveling, painting and scuba diving.”

Q: If you could visit a fictional world for a day & be immersed in it, where would you go?

A: “Bridgerton is the fictional world I would choose to spend a day in. I'm intrigued by the excitement, fashion, and royal treatment.”

Q: What motivates you?

A: ”Creating a life that aligns with my values, Exploring new places, cultures, and perspectives, helping others.”

Q: What do you wish you heard before becoming a fellow?

A: “In college, I chose a different route and made the early decision that experiential learning is equally as important as what we learn in the classroom. You can grow as a person by venturing outside of your comfort zone.”