Quinn Barnette

Class of 2018
Hometown: Belmont, NC

Quinn Barnette, of Belmont, NC, graduated in May 2018 with a degree in Biology and minors in Public Health and Applied Anthropology. Following graduation, Quinn remained in Charlotte to gain experience in public health before pursuing graduate studies in Social Epidemiology. As a Levine Scholar, Quinn interned at the Academy for Population Health Innovation, where he served as a research fellow on several projects related to controlling HIV in Mecklenburg County. As a result of this experience, Quinn used his civic engagement grant to help develop cultural competency training for four clinics in Charlotte to provide HIV prevention medications to the community free of cost. His international experiences included a summer course on HIV in South Africa, a summer experience in Israel and Palestine, a semester in Costa Rica, and a summer internship in Bangalore, India. “The ability to intern for RTI International on a randomized controlled trial in India helped solidify my interest social epidemiology. I want to use the diverse background afforded to me by the Levine program to develop innovative methods in public health,” Quinn said. He also was involved with Friendship Gardens, a local non-profit devoted to sustainable food security in Charlotte. “My experience with Friendship Gardens convinced me that health inherently involved the community and propelled my interest in public health.” Quinn believes his experience as a 49er was irreplaceable. “UNC Charlotte shares the same ethos as the Levine Scholars Program, which helped propel me throughout my college career to be engaged civically and academically.”