Charisse Ahmed is a PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Her research focuses on the implementation of interventions to improve health outcomes among adolescents living with HIV in Eswatini. Charisse received her first Bachelor’s degree in Health Education at the University of Florida (UF) in 2015 and her second Bachelor's degree in Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania in 2018. Since 2013, Charisse has been involved in HIV advocacy work on the domestic and international level, from providing HIV/AIDS education to high school and college students, organizing community-based HIV prevention and testing events, conducting HIV socio-behavioral research, to attending national and international HIV conferences and meetings with policymakers to advocate for the needs of young people living with HIV.

After graduating from UF, Charisse worked at the National Institutes of Health where she conducted HIV and Hepatitis C research, and later conducted her own HIV research in Eswatini as a Fulbright grantee before starting nursing school. After completing her PhD, Charisse plans on pursuing a career as a nurse scientist to improve healthcare access and quality among underserved populations across the globe.

Charisse enjoys traveling, West African dance, and living out her Christian faith. Charisse has a passion to empower young women and girls, and previously mentored adolescent girls living with HIV. She would like to use her research to advocate for the health and well-being of marginalized and vulnerable populations, and thus promote health policy change to meet their needs.

Philadelphia, PA – University of Pennsylvania - Two-Year Full-Time 2020 HIV League Scholar ($7,000)