Anika Engel is drawn to the health field but also loves writing and public affairs.

Anika Engel, who graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies, has a commitment to serve others. Photo: Joshua Prezant/University of Miami

Barbara Gutierrez
5-5-2025
This story originally appeared in News@TheU.

When Anika Engel was in high school, she volunteered to be a member of the EMT ambulance corps in Wilton, Connecticut, during the COVID-19 pandemic. She did it to help people. She was 16 years old.

That same determination and commitment to serve others has contributed to her tremendous success at the University of Miami. She graduates from the School of Communication with a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies, a minor in Health Management and Policy through the Miami Herbert Business School, and a minor in psychology from the College of Arts and Sciences.

In her years at the University, she has proven that interdisciplinary work can lead to success.

“I feel like I am involved just as much with the School of Communication, the school of business, the library, and the College of Arts and Sciences,” she said.

In her work at the Miami Herbert Business School, she took several courses with Michael French, professor and chair in the Health Management and Policy Department, and with Karoline Mortensen, professor, associate dean of business programs, and associate director of the Center for Health Management and Policy. She considers them mentors.

“Anika is an exceptional student. She not only absorbs all the core material in her courses but strives to learn the nuances of the various topics and regularly asks instructors for supplementary materials to read so that she can extend her knowledge base,” said French. “In addition, she regularly offers assistance to her classmates, especially those who are having difficulty in a particular course.”

Working at the Otto G. Richter Library as a peer research consultant, she aided many students and researchers with their academic work.

“Anika is a relationship builder,” Mortensen said. “She is always ready to help other students. Students shared how Anika showed them how to use citation software and how to search for library databases for research relevant to their work.”

Last November, Engel was recommended by Mortensen to participate in a case competition in South Carolina to present a plan on how to create an institute at the Medical University of South Carolina for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a disease that affects the skin, joints, and blood vessels. Engel came up with a comprehensive communications plan that included a community health campaign to raise awareness about the disease. Her team earned second place in the competition.

She was also chosen as an Adobe Scholar, where she works with a mentor from the University Libraries staff in creating a personal project. She chose to study the effects of the sea on personal health in a visual project called “Good Vibes and High Tides.”

“The Adobe Scholars program really feels like it was made for me. As someone potentially going into communications but also passionate about research, it was such a blessing to work on a project integrating the creativity of communications and the analytical skills of research,” she said.

Engel admits that she loves psychology and the health field but is also drawn to writing and communications. In this past year, she has worked as a writing intern at the College of Arts and Sciences.

Her supervisor, Kyra Gurney, senior communications specialist, said working with Engel “has been a joy.”

“She has been a writing intern since August 2024, and I have greatly appreciated the quality of her writing, her enthusiasm, and her ability to work quickly and accurately,” she said.

“She has written numerous articles on topics ranging from art exhibitions to physics research, demonstrating an exceptional ability to translate complex subjects into reader-friendly language,” Gurney added. “I have been especially impressed by the articles she has written related to psychology and public health, areas in which she has as particular interest.”

Because of her excellent academic work, Engel is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, one of the oldest and most prestigious societies at the University, and Lambda Pi Eta, the official honor society of the National Communication Association for four-year colleges and universities.

After graduation, Engel will work as an intern for Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, or PhRMA, the pharmaceutical firm, where she will combine her knowledge of public affairs, writing, and health policy.