Jilkiah Bryant, a native of Macon, MS, graduated from University of Mississippi with a B.S. in Public Health and Health Sciences and a minor in mathematics. Her honors thesis focused on the Black male educator shortage in Mississippi Public Schools and provided intervention strategies to mitigate this disparity. Jilkiah is heavily involved her community, focusing on improving overall equity for marginalized populations. She established a non-profit that addresses violence, food, literacy, and education challenges in locations around Mississippi. Additionally, she established the first annual bilingual health fair in Pontotoc, MS, providing both English and Spanish speakers with access to free medical testing and healthcare advice. Outside of the classroom, Jilkiah is a youth ministry volunteer with her church and an avid reader of African American science fiction, historical fiction, and satire. As a Marshall Scholar, she will study Health Economics at the University of Sheffield, and Health and International Development at London School of Economics.