Chase Brightwell was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended the University of Richmond where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Healthcare & Society and Journalism in 2015. Chase’s undergraduate thesis discussed the public health implications of climate change in urban informal settlements, with an emphasis on community-based sanitation resilience strategies. He spent a semester studying abroad with the International Honors Program in India, Vietnam and South Africa, comparing healthcare systems and researching cross-cultural projects. In 2014, Chase worked in the communications department at World Pediatric Project, a Richmond-based NGO that provides critical care to children from Central America and the Caribbean. The following summer, Chase interned with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia researching environmental health disparities and standing in solidarity with communities facing environmental injustices. Chase is a frequent volunteer and trained vocalist who enjoys spending time outdoors and pursuing a variety of creative projects involving the visual and performing arts.