Victoria Noel is an alumna of USFs whose path in public health was shaped by her familys example of service and a growing commitment to improving community well-being.
I have always admired my parents for leading by example and credit them for instilling my strong work ethic, she said. Her mothers work in the nonprofit sector introduced her to public service at an early age. I remember joining her at community health fairs and wellness expos in the Tampa Bay area, Noel reflected, which were experiences that planted the seeds for her future in public health.
I also have always been driven by a deep passion to help others grow and believe in their own potential, Noel explained.
She carried that mindset into her community involvement, serving as a coach with Girls on the Run and as a volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay.
In both my personal and professional life, I have consistently found it natural to foster an environment where people around me feel empowered to flourish, she said.
Noel volunteering and mentoring youth in Tampa. (Photo courtesy of Noel)
After completing her associate of arts degree at Hillsborough Community College, Noel transferred to USF unsure of her direction.
At the time, my mom was working at the Florida Mental Health Institute on campus, which is close to the COPH, she recalled. After I expressed to her that I was unsure of what I wanted to study, she said to me, I think you should check out public health, I think youd like it.
That suggestion changed everything.
She brought the catalog and a brochure from the COPH and she was right. I was immediately drawn to the courses based upon their descriptions, Noel said. Since I had always enjoyed health and wellness, I felt like I was making the right decision by declaring public health for my undergraduate studies.
During her time as a student at the COPH, Noel experienced several defining moments and remembered an early classroom experience that helped her understand public health in action.
We were given This is Public Health stickers and instructed to walk around campus outside and place the sticker somewhere, Noel said. I remember it feeling very motivating as it was my first semester. I was learning what public health was and how it is all around us.
One of the most meaningful moments was her induction into , an honorary society in public health that has welcomed over 400 members who exemplify the highest standards of scholarship, leadership, and service.
Noel was inducted into the Delta Omega Honor Society post-graduation in April 2024. (Photo courtesy of Noel)
The induction ceremony felt like a full-circle moment; it was held in the same auditorium where I took my first elective course in 2011. She reflected, I felt immense gratitude for all I had accomplished through the COPH over the years and it was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on my time there.
Her first job as a pharmacy technician at Publix spanned her time before, during and even after her time as an undergraduate student, and provided her first hands-on professional exposure to public health.
I gained a great deal of knowledge as a technician and actively practiced health education, medication adherence/safety and coordination of immunizations, Noel said.
Noel went on to earn her bachelor of science in public health in 2013 and later returned to complete her master of public health with a concentration in social marketing in 2023.
She later transitioned into positions within a health plan, including pharmacy operations, customer service analytics and knowledge management.
Today, she serves as a program manager for a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan.
My focus is to aid in improving member engagement and retention for the health plan, she explained.
Her work includes designing and managing multi-channel campaigns.
Campaign examples include SMS, email, direct mail and public webpages, Noel said. As a program manager, I am responsible for standing up campaigns from start to finish including contracting, scripting, stakeholder meetings, implementation, analysis and reporting.
Noel traveled to Denver in Jan. 2026 for a work trip to Fieldwork's market research facility. Consumer research was done through qualitative interviews, where Noel sat in an observation room behind a one-way mirror to capture authentic live feedback without influencing participant behaviors or responses. The research collected was used to determine effectiveness for member communications related to Medicare Prescription Drug Plans. (Photo courtesy of Noel)
Noels COPH education continues to influence her daily work.
While creating member materials, I always keep health literacy in the back of my mind and am mindful to use respectful and inclusive language, Noel said. Sometimes its really the little things you learn academically that you remember forever.
Looking ahead, Noel remains reflective and open about her future.
Im still figuring out what I want to do when I grow up and I feel like there is so much out there to learn, she said. But I am interested in roles that would focus on health equity to address social determinants of health. I personally feel the biggest impact when Im contributing towards helping others, whether that is in my personal or professional life.
Reflecting on the evolution of COPH, Noel said that seeing the colleges growth today is meaningful to her.
In a good way it surprises me how much the COPH has grown to be the #1 ranked in Florida and one of the top ranked public health programs in the nation, she said.
Fast Five
What did you dream of becoming when you were young?
My heart was set on being a teacher for as long as I can remember.
Where would we find you on the weekend?
The beginning of my weekend is typically spent working out, followed by hanging out with my closest loved ones.
What is the last book you read?
We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle, Abby Wambach and Amanda Doyle.
What superpower would you like to have?
With a strong sense of empathy, Id say it would be having the power to heal others.
Whats your all-time favorite movie?
The Pursuit of Happiness