Alumni Spotlight: Dylan Pell

Tell us about your current role — what do you do, who do you serve, and what does a typical day look like

I work for the New Mexico Department of Health as a Mental Health Epidemiologist. I analyze data on New Mexico populations to write reports and make recommendations to improve the mental health and well-being of New Mexicans. Some days I’m behind the computer screen writing code and analyzing data. I spend a lot of my time meeting with other scientists discussing new study ideas or methods to answer community questions. Lastly, I get the chance to talk to people in the community about their own health data or work with local governments to get the information they need for planning. 

What have you been working on lately that you're proud of or excited about?

I recently had the chance to testify as an expert witness in a case brought by the New Mexico Department of Justice against Meta regarding mental health harms to children. It was a good opportunity to use our data to talk about the serious public health need to address youth mental health and consider the impact of social media on children.

Close-up selfie of a man wearing black-framed glasses outdoors, with a small town and mountains under a clear blue sky in the background.

How did your time in the NMSU Social Work program shape the practitioner you are today?

The NMSU social work program provided me with skills to approach epidemiological problems from a community focused lens and a professional connection to the health topic I study. Having worked in clinical social work settings, I know the people in our mental health data are not just numbers. I recognize that providers, families, schools, and governments face major challenges that are not always visible in our health statistics. Because of the strong NMSU community, I’ve had the privilege of regularly working with several NMSU alumni which has been awesome!

What's one lesson from your career you wish you'd known as a student?

One of the smartest people I know told me that the defining feature of a good epidemiologist is curiosity. It’s not being book smart or good at math. It’s a desire to investigate questions and seek answers tenaciously. Everything else can be overcome if the person is sufficiently curious.

Is there anything else you'd like fellow alumni or current students to know — about your work, your journey, or the field?

The New Mexico Department of Health works to ensure communities have access to their own health data. We can share results from our data with fellow alumni or students and help them access entire data sets so they can conduct new analyses. The data is best used in the hands of our local community members, those most directly impacted by the issues. Please do not hesitate to reach out and ask for data when you need it.