October 12, 2023 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu

Anjell Mitchell’s career has taken place in a mix of clinical and academic settings, but it’s always had a health focus. After graduating from the Arnold School with a B.S. in Exercise Science, she kicked off her professional experience as a patient care coordinator at a major rehabilitation hospital in Charlotte, N.C.

Columbia felt like home though, and Mitchell and her family (including two active daughters) returned after several years out of state. Over the course of her career, she has amassed more than 12 years in direct patient care and 18 in office support. Mitchell has also maintained her licensure in massage therapy and bodywork for the past 15 years.

The Arnold School came back in the picture in 2017. Mitchell returned to her alma mater as an administrative coordinator with PASOs.

“Public health has always been my passion, and I’m excited to have come full circle and to be able to give back to the school that instilled so much in me,” she says.

In 2020, her role expanded with the launch of the Center for Community Health Alignment, which is now home to PASOs, the Community Health Worker Institute, Equity through Meaningful Community Engagement, and the Southeast Community Health Worker Network. Collectively, these entities work with communities to address health inequities.

As one of the team’s administrative coordinators, Mitchell handles human resources activities, manages contracts and purchases, works with suppliers and facilities support, oversees contracts and business operations and much more. Seeing the impact of their work is her favorite part of the job.

"Anjell’s professionalism and organizational skills are invaluable to fulfilling the daily tasks of CCHA and PASOs. She is my left hand when my right needs to talk things out," says business manager Evangeline Cornelius. "She does a fantastic job meeting personal as well as team deadlines and seeking answers as a liaison from internal and external departments/organizations to ensure we achieve the goals of the department. Her commitment and kindness make her a priceless treasure to our team. I am thankful to have a consistently reliable professional on my team. Thanks for being you!"

“I love the feeling of accomplishment when I can see the difference our organizations are making in the community and knowing that I had a hand in helping us get to those points,” Mitchell says. “Sometimes in patient care, you don’t always get to see the ‘after’ with your patients or have insight into how they’ve grown and evolved with your assistance. It makes me feel good to see the end result of so much hard work and be a part of seeing ideas become reality in very influential ways.”

The Staff Spotlight Series is sponsored by the Arnold School's Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

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