From carrying out vital research into our century's biggest health problems, traveling to countries all over the world, and learning how to sew during the pandemic, we caught up with Cho-Hee Shrader, who graduated LAS in 2007.

Years at LAS: 2005-2007, they were two of the best years of my life!

Skiing or snowboarding? I’m a goofy snowboarder for life!

Fondue or raclette? I can't choose, so I will just say that I like the moitié-moitié fondue and raclette with the little potatoes.

Where are you currently living? Currently I live between Brooklyn and Miami. I'm an academic researcher so my schedule is very flexible. I can work remotely for the most part and so I split my time based on what is going on in each of those cities!

What line of work are you in? I'm in the field of socio-behavioral research, with a focus on addressing some of our century's biggest public health problems, like HIV and substance misuse, using methods like social network analysis and spatial epidemiology. I also study how your neighborhood  environment can influence your access to health. This type of work is really important in countries like South Africa in which 25% of the population is living with HIV or in the US, where up to 1 in 2 racial and sexual minority men will be diagnosed with HIV in their lifetime.

What are you working on right now? Currently I am applying for jobs in academia as a professor of public health. For this, I'm flying all over the US for interviews and campus visits to see where I like the most to call home. This also means selling our Florida condo so I'm working on that. I'm also getting married at the end of summer so I am planning a wedding in Brooklyn with my partner. And of course, I am planning some fun travel for work and for leisure - so this year I will be visiting Hawai'i, Arizona, and Korea!

What are you currently enjoying? I'm currently learning how to sew. I learned how to sew masks during the pandemic, and now I am trying to sew together a quilt. Eventually I'll move to clothes! 

What three luxury items are you taking to a deserted island? My SPF 50 sunblock from Lope (the best K beauty brand), a Chanel sunhat, and a glass bottom kayak or paddleboard to fish and explore the ocean.

What is your fondest LAS memory? Hands down it is the moments between the ‘moments’ and just being at LAS. Yes, the cultural trips to Zurich and to Florence were unforgettable. Of course, I loved ski days where we could ditch class to ride all day. But I think just breathing in that air, watching the sunset colors splash across the Dents du Midi, catching glimpses of my friends between classes for a quick hello, and sneaking in some rule breaking were some of my fondest memories.

What is your advice to our graduating class about entering the big, wide, world? You are going to feel imposter syndrome and feel like you don't belong at times. Well, you are not an imposter. You belong here. You deserve to follow your dreams and to have them come true. You have worked your whole life to get to this point—so ride out your success and remember to take some time to breathe and enjoy the scenery.

Is there a faculty or alumni you want to give a shout out to? I want to shout out my number one main woman, Maxine Chen Gerber ‘07. You have kept me sane for the past 20 years and took good care of me at LAS, when you were also just a student and should have been taking care of yourself! Thank you for always accepting me and loving me, and calling me at the stroke of midnight of New Year's Eve every year so that you could always be the first person to wish me happy birthday!

We want to hear about what our LAS alumni are up to! Get in touch and let us know at advancement@las.ch.