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Graduate School announces 2025 Impact Award winners

These researchers examined health care burnout, breast cancer disparities and other challenges affecting North Carolina.

Each year, The Graduate School honors graduate students in programs throughout the University for powerful discoveries that contribute to a better future for people and communities in North Carolina.

The longstanding Impact Award recognizes discoveries with a direct impact on our state in the present time.

Meet the winners of the 13 Impact Awards for 2025.

State of North Carolina flag flying from South Building on the campus of UNC-Chapel Hill. Polk Place, with two people pictured, is seen in the background.

Aleah Bailey, doctoral student in toxicology

Bailey’s research on understanding the health impacts of wildfire smoke on vulnerable communities showed that people with high stress and recent smoke exposure may have worse health outcomes.

Portrait of Aleah Bailey atop a Navy blue background.

Sarah Blanton, doctoral student in Romance studies

Blanton’s research on understanding North Carolina farmworkers’ experiences through storytelling confirmed that the lives and contributions of North Carolina’s 14,000 to 17,000 seasonal farmworkers are often overlooked.

Portrait of Sarah Blanton atop a Carolina Blue background.

Laura Chaves Cerdas, doctoral student in public policy

In Chaves Cerdas’ research on preventing maternal morbidity through prenatal care, she investigated whether prenatal visits by pregnant women with diabetes or high blood pressure can prevent serious health problems during birth.

Portrait of Laura Chaves Cerdas atop a Navy blue background.

Jeremy Fine, medical and doctoral student in health policy and management

Fine’s research on improving transportation systems for North Carolina patients experiencing mental health crises looked at the benefits of providing a more compassionate, patient-friendly way to transport individuals in mental health crises.

Portrait of Jeremy Fine atop a Carolina Blue background.

Nicholas Funnell, doctoral student in ecology

In his research on ecological practices to promote N.C. oyster populations, Funnell studied oyster-related practices and suggested some changes to help improve oyster health.

Portrait of Nick Funnell atop a Navy blue background.

Lauren Grimley, doctoral student in earth, marine and environmental sciences

In her research on improving flood hazard models for hurricane risk assessment, Grimley used a flood model to study how climate change could worsen flooding from storms to determine who and what may be exposed.

Portrait of Lauren Grimley atop a Carolina Blue background.

Kenneth Harris III, doctoral student in social work

Harris’ research on building psychological resilience among active-duty military service members aimed to find new ways to build psychological resilience among minority service members and their families.

Portrait of Kenneth Harris atop a Navy blue background.

Elizabeth Kwong, doctoral student in medical and health informatics

Kwong’s research on addressing burnout among N.C. health care professionals outlined easy-to-implement methods to identify burnout and suggests improvements that can be applied in other health care settings.

Portrait of Elizabeth Kwong atop a Carolina Blue background.

Olufeyisayo Odebunmi, doctoral student in health policy and management

Odebunmi’s research on the impact of racial disparities on North Carolina breast cancer survivors looked at how different factors affect the financial and mental health of Black and white breast cancer survivors.

Portrait of Olufeyisayo Odebunmi atop a Navy blue background.

Annie Oommen, master’s student in city and regional planning

Oommen’s research on  improving transportation for Medicaid beneficiaries in N.C. showed how Medicaid beneficiaries are struggling to access healthcare under the new managed care system. Oommen was one of the graduate students who shared the impact of her research with state legislators earlier this year.

Portrait of Annie Oommen atop a Carolina blue background.

Courtney Peragallo, master’s graduate in public health

Peragallo’s research on improving health outcomes through collaborative public health leadership looked at how collaborative public health leadership improved COVID-19 outcomes and prepared future leaders to handle crises.

Courtney Peragallo atop a Navy blue background.

Sarah Perry and Charlotte Robbins, master’s graduates in public health

Their research on health impacts of environmental hazards on migrant farmworkers collected stories from these workers about how pesticides and heat, poor access to healthcare and discrimination affected their health and lives.

Portraits of Sarah Perry and Charlotte Robbins atop a Carolina Blue background.

Jennifer Stone, doctoral graduate in speech and hearing sciences

Stone’s research on the impact of representation in children’s literature on North Carolina kindergartners included an analysis of a collection of 60 books given to kindergarteners in 2022 that showed improved racial diversity but no representations of people with disabilities or those who identify as LGBTQ+.

Portrait of Jennifer Stone atop a Navy blue background.

Read more about the 2025 Impact Award winners and their research.

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