by Susan Gawlowicz
RIT graduating senior Jillian Antol, a double major in global public health and criminal justice, is postponing law school for the Peace Corps.
She will leave in September for Fiji to work as an economic community development volunteer. After a three-month pre-service training, including an introduction to Fijian Hindi, Antol will receive her assignment and join her new community.
"I wanted to do health or economic development because it would allow me to learn so much and be able to contribute more," Antol said. "That role is about the community telling you what they need and then you learn how to help them."
Antol grew up in Pittsburgh, Pa., in a family that prioritized volunteering and mission trips. Joining the Peace Corps became her childhood goal.
A deep concern about the welfare of others underlies her RIT education. She came to the university to study criminal justice with the idea of pursuing a legal career. Then, guest speakers on campus influenced her interest in medical malpractice and international public health.
A curiosity about health law led her to take public health classes and enroll in the global public health degree when it launched in 2024. Antol will be the first graduate from the program.
She visited the Dominican Republic on a student trip led by John Oliphant, director of the global health program. She saw first-hand that peoples' lived experiences with a healthcare system sometimes are at odds with public data.
"I think that being able to talk to doctors and nurses and patients in clinics is more valuable because what you learn from data and from government reports is nothing compared to what you hear directly from the people impacted the most by the system," Antol said. "I think you get a raw and genuine example of how the health system runs."
As a Peace Corps volunteer, Antol's placement in Fiji will enable her to learn directly from the community members about their needs and priorities.
Leadership and team experience gained through RIT Athletics has also prepared her for the Peace Corps.
She played defense for the women's soccer team for four years and was a co-captain during her final season. Antol is the current president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and in charge of fundraisers for the Rochester Breast Cancer Coalition and Western New York Special Olympics.
Last fall, the Allstate National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics recognized Antol's leadership in community service, academics, and athletics. She was named to the inaugural Good Works Team, honoring 20 student-athletes from across NCAA Division I, II, and III.
"One thing I've really gained from being at RIT is meeting so many different people from the U.S. and other countries," Antol said. "Especially in athletics, you meet a lot of people from different backgrounds and experiences. I think their opinions and understanding of the way things work really grows your education."
Susan Gawlowicz is a Senior Communication Specialist in University Communications Marketing and Communications
