Class of 2026 Global Health Student Spotlight: Alae Aboussad

Applied Mathematics – Psychology Track | Global Health and Health Policy

Alae Aboussad spent her undergraduate years exploring how structural and social factors shape health outcomes across communities and countries. Concentrating in Applied Mathematics on the Psychology track with a secondary in Global Health and Health Policy, she combined interests in public health, harm reduction, and social justice through both academic work and community advocacy.

Through her involvement with the Harvard Global Health Institute, the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter, and public health nonprofit work, Aboussad developed a perspective on global health grounded in lived experience, policy, and community engagement. Her interests include healthcare accessibility, social determinants of health, health technology, and practical, on-the-ground approaches to supporting vulnerable populations.

Through the Global Health and Health Policy secondary, Aboussad found a supportive academic and personal community at HGHI. She later served as a student ambassador on the Student Advisory Committee, helping organize events, connecting with prospective students, and fostering welcoming conversations around global health and social justice.

Outside of HGHI, her experiences included public health nonprofit work, serving as Finance Director at the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter, research at Harvard Business School, and an internship focused on vaccine access with the Prolepsis Institute.

What has your experience with HGHI been like over time?

I first became involved with HGHI through the Global Health and Health Policy secondary, and over time it really became one of the spaces on campus where I felt most supported. One of the things I appreciated most was the very supportive advising and being surrounded by peers who are genuinely passionate about global health and social justice. It created an environment where conversations extended far beyond the classroom and where people really cared about the communities and issues they were working with.

What initially sparked your interest in global health?

Being born and raised in Morocco shaped a lot of the way I think about health. I became interested in how some issues are universal to health, while also seeing how different countries navigate unique social, political, and structural challenges in very different ways. I also started volunteering at the Harvard Square Homeless Shelter during the spring of my freshman year, and that experience deeply influenced my understanding of public health. I couldn’t help but notice how closely housing and health are linked in so many ways, and how access to healthcare and stable housing is often contingent on larger structural factors such as income, legal status, social support systems, and access to resources. That experience made global health feel very tangible and immediate to me, rather than something distant or purely theoretical.

What has been the most meaningful or memorable moment from your work with HGHI?

One of the most meaningful parts of my experience has been serving on the advisory committee. It has been really nice getting to meet prefrosh during Visitas events and helping organize events for students who might be interested in GHHP. I’ve enjoyed being able to talk to students about the program, share my experiences, and help create a welcoming space for people exploring global health for the first time. The GHHP classes themselves have also been incredibly meaningful. The courses are genuinely engaging, and I’ve had the opportunity to meet really inspiring faculty whose work bridges research, policy, and community engagement in ways I deeply admire.

Learn more HGHI’s student opportunities by visiting our Student Engagement Page.