About CHRT

Montala Carruthers is pursuing her Master of Public Health with a concentration in population and health sciences at the University of Michigan. She previously earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health from the University of Iowa with University honors and multiple Dean’s List recognitions, alongside a minor in criminology and a certificate in resilience and trauma-informed perspectives. A first-generation college graduate and new mother, Montala exemplifies the transformative power of education.

Montala’s public health career is rooted in firsthand experience with social determinants of health. She has served as a behavioral health coordinator, supporting individuals experiencing homelessness, and as a certified pharmacy technician, administering COVID-19 vaccines and wellness screenings during the pandemic. Her work spans local and global contexts, from shaping outreach strategies for the Illinois Department of Human Services to supporting mental health access for refugees at Vall d’Hebron Hospital in Barcelona.

Since becoming a mother in 2024, Montala has continued working full-time across three roles — including two AmeriCorps positions — while preparing for and beginning graduate school. She writes that motherhood has sharpened her sense of purpose, driving her to advocate for health equity and create systems of care that are trauma-informed, accessible, and family-centered.

Montala’s leadership extends beyond her professional work. She co-founded the Undergraduate Mentorship Program at Iowa’s College of Public Health and established Paws at Iowa to expand access to therapy animals for students. Her vision centers on advancing health equity through community-based programs and policy advocacy, building a legacy of resilience for her family and the communities she serves. In the future, Montala aims to lead public health initiatives that bridge policy and practice, focusing on housing, mental health, and social services. She envisions a career grounded in community voice and structural change, working toward a world where every family can access the care they need to thrive.