Congratulations to Councilwoman Aditi Bussells for being recognized in the State’s Newspaper 19th year of 20 people under the age of 40 who are making a difference in the Midlands.
Read the brief insert about Councilwoman Bussells and how she’s making change to our city.
ADITI SRIVASTAV BUSSELLS
Public health researcher and consultant; Columbia City Councilwoman at-large
Age: 32
Education: PhD, Health Promotion Education and Behavior, University of South Carolina; MPH, Health Policy, George Washington University; BA, American Government and Politics, University of Virginia
Family: Husband: Louis Bussells, Army veteran and currently nurse at MUSC Midlands Hospital ER; parents: Dr. Sudhir and Rashmi Srivastav, scientists at National Institutes of Health; sister: Dr. Jigisha Srivastav, first year resident at Wake Forest Hospital; in laws: Ernie and Julie Bussells
Community and professional highlights: Over the last five years, I was director of research at the Children’s Trust of South Carolina, leading child well-being research. Recently, I made a transition to public health consulting at Deloitte. In this role, I work with various federal health agencies to optimize how they serve children and families. I am affiliate faculty in the Department of Health Promotion, Education and Behavior at the University of South Carolina, teaching undergraduate public health classes. Most notably, I ran for the at-large seat on Columbia City Council this past November as a first time candidate. I am humbled and honored to be the first Asian American woman to be elected to Columbia City Council and to have received the most votes out of any candidate running in the 2021 city council election cycle.
What’s the best advice you received from a mentor? “Just remember who you are. The world will try to change you into someone else. Don’t let them.” — Cinda Williams Chima
What do you like best about living in the Midlands? I’m going to narrow this question down a little more and answer what I love about our capital city, Columbia. I call it the Columbia magic. It’s that electrifying feeling of love and passion that people have for this city and each other. It’s this magic that allows anyone, whether they were born and raised here or chose to move here and plant their roots, to bring their ideas and dreams to life. I’m excited by what’s to come for Columbia.
My life changed when … I stopped trying to fit in. It’s okay to stand out.
Read more at: https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article261083377.html?s=09
Original source can be found here.
