Monica Kavanaugh was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She completed her undergraduate and graduate studies at Saint Louis University where she studied public health and health care ethics with a concentration in maternal and child health, respectively. While in St. Louis, Monica served her community as a mentor to at-risk teens, an intern with a local food bank, and a volunteer at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. While a graduate student, Monica worked to launch an academic program for students interested in adding a global lens to their field of study. Pursuing her passion for global health, Monica designed and implemented a nutrition and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder assessment for school age children in Belize City, Belize. This work was influential in creating an evidence-based link between community violence, trauma, and its effects on education. In her free time, Monica enjoys running, figure skating, photography, and watching sunsets on Lake Michigan.