1. Could you please share a short background about yourself?
Currently, I work full-time as a farm to table coordinator, which means I work to connect the local food system. I do this through building relationships with small-scale farmers and institutions, helping to plan educational opportunities and working to make connections, so local foods are more readily available to all. We do policy work, and through this, I see a direct correlation to my coursework at Kent State.
2. How is your experience with the program so far?
I have nothing but positive things to say about my experience so far in the online Master of Public Health (MPH) program. All of my professors, my academic advisor and my academic success coach have made being a distance student so smooth. I feel connected and truly feel I know what is expected of me always.
3. What has been your favorite part of the program? Do you have a favorite course?
My favorite part of the program thus far has been the coursework itself. You know you chose the right graduate degree when you do not mind reading your textbooks! Each class has been different, but all of the information has been insightful and has expanded my understanding of the public health field.
My favorite course has been the one I am currently taking—Public Health Policy, Law and Ethics—because it’s shown me how important these three areas are to public health and how necessary it is to have public health experts working in this field on behalf of our populations.
I will be attending the global health immersion course in Geneva, Switzerland this summer with Dr. Thomas Brewer, and I have a feeling that will quickly take the place as my favorite part of the program!
4. What made you choose to study online for your MPH?
I chose to pursue my MPH online, because I wanted the flexibility to live where I wanted and to be able to continue working simultaneously.
5. Would you recommend this program?
I would recommend this program to those who want to pursue their master’s but need the flexibility to do it on their own time. I will not say it has been easy to balance work and school, but Kent State has definitely made it possible by providing the support and understanding you need to be successful.
6. What are your career plans after you graduate with your master’s?
My career plans after I graduate are loosely defined at this point, but I would like to work in food access and security. I plan to farm part-time and am planning to move back to Northeast Ohio within the coming months.
In the future, I would love to connect WIC (Women, Infants and Children) and SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients to a fresh food, Community Supported Agriculture program to ensure that nutrient dense food is accessible to all, not just to those with higher incomes.
I would also like to work with schools to promote nutrition education through school gardens, because I truly believe that by promoting these habits at a young age, we can change the face of our food system.
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