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Four William Paterson alumni pursuing careers in public health shared their insights and advice on how to navigate the current job market during the College of Science and Health fall 2026 SHINE (Science and Health Industries Network for Excellence) event on campus on October 15.
The program, in its fourth year, is a collaboration between the College of Science and Health, the Career Development Center, and the Office of Institutional Advancement designed to connect WP students with alumni in a variety of science and health fields. Previous panels have focused on careers in the healthcare, technology, and pharmaceutical industries.
Nahshon Bolton ’18, Public Health Educator, Bergen County Department of Health; Shellecia Smith ’20, Doula Program Compliance Specialist, New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority; Christopher Merkel ’98, Health Officer, City of Atlantic City; and Beagy Fils-Aime ’17, Speaker Bureau Specialist, Jazz Pharma; spoke to students about their various roles, their paths to careers in public health, and their advice to graduates seeking to enter the field.
Bolton, who began as a biology major before switching to public health, described himself as an extrovert, and found that public health was a better fit. “I realized that there is a public health aspect to many organizations,” he said. In his current role, he works with many organizations making presentations about health issues. He encouraged students to think broadly about their potential career path. “I believe that public health educators serve as a translator of health information for a lot of people, which is very important today,” he said. Bolton, who was vice president of the SGA and helped re-vitalize the Public Health Club during his time on campus, encouraged students to join as many clubs and organizations as possible in order to build leadership skills.
Smith, who was a public health major, planned to pursue a career in a public health department. As a graduate who entered the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic, she was given an opportunity to work in an immunization program, which led to a position at the New Jersey Department of Health. A training course she took to learn about how to be a doula became a passion and resulted in her current position training doulas throughout the state. “You have to be flexible and able to pivot,” she said. “Be curious; you never know what that might lead to.”
Merkel, who originally planned to major in nursing, says he always knew he wanted to help people, “and I found public health.” He began his career as an environmental health officer inspecting restaurants in rural Salem County, New Jersey. “I knew I wanted to be a health officer,” he said. Today, as the health officer for Atlantic City, he is immersed in large public health issues for underserved populations, from homelessness to substance abuse. “I don’t think you need to chart your path today, because it will change based on your experiences,” he added. He encouraged students to “get out there and start networking,” to acquire skills such as public speaking and listening, and “to advocate for the profession” in the face of cuts to government funding.
Fils-Aime, also a public health major, told the students that a job in the pharmacy at CVS during her junior year sparked her interest in the pharmaceutical field; an internship in marketing at a hospital cemented that interest. “Put yourself in spaces where you can go and learn,” she said. “Meet people who are like-minded and get involved. Make yourself a trusted partner.” She told the students to use LinkedIn as a vehicle to build connections and relationships, as well as attendance at professional events. “Who you are sitting next to right now may help you in the future.”
“Our alumni were once sitting in your seats, exploring their interests, and wondering where their skills might take them,” said Venkat Sharma, dean of the College of Science and Health. “Listen to their advice that might help you chart your own path.”
