During a recent CNN interview, Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, who is leading an NIH team in vaccine development, credited her former professor Jessica Kelley for sparking her interest in health disparities. Corbett, who studied with Kelley as a Sociology double major at UMBC, went on to discuss the importance of equitable vaccine distribution as the COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on Black and Brown communities. In addition, Corbett discuses managing vaccine hesitancy, and what being a young, Black, female scientist has meant for her.