Last month, Assistant Professor Michelle Del Rio, Ph.D. in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH) was only one of three professionals statewide whom the Indiana Latino Institute named to the "Elevated Latinos Under 40" Leadership Award Series.
This honor highlights outstanding professionals aged 30 to 39 who have made significant contributions to Indiana and its communities. Earlier this year, Dr. Del Rio was awarded an almost $1 million dollar federal grant for her “Healthy Homes Technical Study Proposal” to investigate lead exposure in Indiana households, partnering with colleagues from the Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute and Kansas State University. Dr. Del Rio also was a featured career speaker during this summer’s REAL-DEAL mentorship program for undergraduates spearheaded by EOH Department Chair Patricia Silveyra, Ph.D. Dr. Del Rio inspired the REAL-DEAL students by sharing her non-linear career journey from El Paso, TX to where she is today.
“I am honored and humbled by the statewide recognition at my career stage,” shares Dr. Del Rio. “My immediate reaction was gratitude, followed by inspiration to continue working toward healthy, safe environments for Latins/Hispanics across the state and nation.”
Dr. Del Rio expresses deep gratitude to her nominators, which include Dean David Allison, Dr. Silveyra, and and former postdoc mentor Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson, Ph.D.
“We are incredibly proud of Michelle and excited for this recognition,” says Dr. Silveyra. “She is an outstanding educator and researcher who truly represents our department’s values, mission, and excellence.”
Dr. Del Rio’s research has helped communities in Texas, New Mexico, and Indiana “access federal funding for infrastructure improvements related to safe water, sanitation, and public transportation,” according to Dr. Silveyra. She is also a member of the American Public Health Association’s Children’s Environmental Health Committee and has developed courses at IU based around this topic.
Among many inspirations, Dr. Del Rio attributes her success to her family members, teachers, mentors, friends, faith community, SPH-B and the Indiana Latino Institute Leadership Circle.
“This recognition is a beautiful sign I am on the right track to reaching my life goal, which is to improve and maximize opportunities for Latinos/Hispanics and other socially vulnerable and marginalized communities to achieve optimal health and well-being through modifications in the social, natural, and built environments,” says Dr. Del Rio. “Preventing lead exposure for at-risk children is one of the objectives of my life goal, and the recognition inspires me to do more.”
For more stories about SPH-B students and faculty making a big difference both locally and worldwide, visit go.iu.edu/48bx.