As an alumnus of the USF’s College of Public Health, Lucas “Luca” Hicks has built a career focused on improving the health of communities. While his academic focus initially pointed toward medicine, his experiences outside the classroom reshaped his trajectory.
His journey into public health began during his undergraduate years at Michigan State University, where he studied neuroscience on a pre-med track.
Through an alternative spring break program, Hicks participated in service trips centered on pressing social issues such as LGBTQ youth homelessness, rural health and low-income housing. These experiences introduced him to the broader forces that shape health outcomes and sparked a deeper interest in community-based work.
“We always said that your zip code plays a larger role than your genetic code on your health outcomes,” Hicks said. “That really stuck with me.”
That perspective led him to the Peace Corps and his first public health focused job where he served as a rural community health volunteer in Benin, West Africa. Over the course of two years, Hicks worked on initiatives ranging from infant nutrition education and malaria prevention to youth development and gender equity. One of his most impactful projects involved training local women’s groups to deliver health education within their own communities, creating a ripple effect that extended to hundreds of households.
Hicks (center) met every other week with a group of local women known as the Leader Mamas, who served as community health educators. Together, they discussed topics such as nutrition, malaria and sexual health. The Leader Mamas then shared those lessons with ten households in their communities, expanding access to trusted health information through a peer-led model. (Photo courtesy of Hicks)
“It was about helping people build the knowledge and confidence to protect their own health and that of their neighbors,” he said.
During his time in Benin, Hicks made the pivotal decision to shift from medicine to public health, recognizing the power of prevention and systems-level change. That decision guided him to the COPH where he began his journey to earn his master of public health with a concentration in .
As he was wrapping up his time with the U.S. Peace Corps, he learned about the .
“These are scholarships offered to Returned Peace Corps Volunteers at various universities across the country to reacclimate you into American culture and bridge how to make use of all the skills and opportunities you had when you were in the Peace Corps,” he said.
(Photo courtesy of Hicks)
Hicks looked at several different Coverdell programs across the country but knew the COPH was the right place.
“What attracted me to the COPH was its focus on service-learning opportunities,” Hicks said. “The integrated learning experiences was huge for me. Being able to take the theory and the academic knowledge base that I was picking up and immediately apply it into real world opportunities, helping organizations on the ground to deliver the service in the best way possible to improve health for the community was exactly what I was looking for.
As a student, he volunteered with organizations such as Feeding Tampa Bay and Seniors in Service, working directly with community members during a time marked by the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Theory is one thing, but knowing how to apply it to make lives better that’s what public health is about,” he said.
His dedication to volunteerism earned him recognition for excellence in service, an achievement he holds alongside his degree as a defining part of his identity. “That award means just as much to me as my degrees. It represents who I am and what I value.”
Hicks pictured on TV Day with his poster for presentation. (Photo courtesy of Hicks)
Reflecting on his time at the COPH, he describes it as both formative and affirming.
“USF gave me so many gifts that will always make me proud of being a Bull,” he said. “It helped cement public health as one of the passions that guides everything I do.”
Today, Hicks serves as a prevention specialist at Eaton Regional Education Service Agency in Michigan, where he works to reduce substance use and promote wellness among youth. In this role, he coordinates a county-wide coalition, facilitates prevention programs in schools and collaborates with educators and community partners to shift systems toward more supportive, health-centered approaches.
Much of his work focuses on addressing the root causes of unhealthy behaviors and creating environments that support long-term well-being. From leading coalition meetings to training student peer leaders, Hicks values the variety and impact of his work.
“If there’s one thing I took from public health, it’s that the environment around us shapes our health,” Hicks said. “I get to work on improving that environment for kids so they have the best chance at healthy futures.”
Hicks’ journey continues to embody the principle that health is shaped not just in clinics, but in communities, relationships and everyday environments.
“Public health is everywhere,” Hicks said. “And that’s what makes it so powerful.”
Fast Five
What did you dream of becoming when you were young?
Astronaut.
Where would we find you on the weekend?
On my balcony reading.
What is the last book you read?
“Angel Down” by Daniel Kraus.
What superpower would you like to have?
Teleportation.
What’s your all-time favorite movie?
Tick, Tick, Boom!