Experience and Interests
Teaching Experience
- Assistant Professor, School of Health Sciences and Wellness, UW-Stevens Point (2022-present)
Professional Experience
- Systems Thinking Certificate, Cornell University (2022).
Research Interests
- Population Health
- Systems Thinking
- Medicare/Medicaid Policy
- Underuse of medical care due to costs
- Guardianship care
Awards
- The Teaching Excellence Award in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Social Justice by the Association of University Programs in Healthcare Administration (AUPHA), 2022
Involvement
Campus
- Research Committee, Health Sciences and Wellness Program (2022-present)
- Strategic Visioning Committee, School of Health Sciences and Wellness (2022-present)
Community
- South Wood County Population Health Steering Committee (2022-present)
- Healthy People Wood County Advisory Council (2022-present)
- Aging and Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin Committee (2023-present)
- United Way of South Wood and Adams County Supportive Community Health Services Roundtable (2022-present)
- United Way of South Wood and Adams County Hunger Coalition (2022-present)
- Inspiring and Mobilizing People to Action for Community Transformation (IMPACT) community team (2022-present)
Professional Memberships
- Population Association of America (PAA)
- Gerontology Society of American (GSA)
- Academy Health
- American Society for Health Economics (ASHE)
Fun Facts
Last book you read?
Palaces for the People: How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life; The Injustice of Place: Uncovering the Legacy of Poverty in America; Weathering: The Extraordinary Stress of Ordinary Life in an Unjust Society; Awestruck: How Embracing Wonder Can Make You Happier, Healthier, and More Connected; We’ve Got You Covered: Rebooting American Health Care; and Random Acts of Medicine: The Hidden Forces That Sway Doctors, Impact Patients, and Shape Our Health (I’m an academic! This will be a completely different list in a few weeks.)
Best advice you ever received?
The ability to re-write is more important than writing. It is skill similar to learning to play piano or basketball, and you need the muscle memory of practicing every day.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I found my career path when I had the good fortune to work for the state demographer of Texas. Seeing firsthand how academic research intersected with state policy development to inform decision making, and I was hooked.
Favorite Quote?
“Just because something sounds true doesn’t mean that it is and magical thinking won’t improve our health care system. Evidence-based health policy helps separate facts from aspiration.” – Katherine Baicker
One thing about your school that you are most proud of?
The School of Health Sciences and Wellness has developed and continues to develop many university/community collaborations here in Central Wisconsin that provide employment opportunities, internship/practicum experiences, and direct experiential learning within the classroom for our students. These are amazing professional development opportunities for our students and directly serve our community partners as we work collaboratively to improve health and well-being beyond the classroom walls.
What do you enjoy most about teaching?
It is most fulfilling to see my students and advisees applying what they are learning in the classroom in service to the community. You are learning content knowledge in your major but also expanding your professional skill set for critical thinking, data interpretation, project management, etc. Applying these skills translate into how you improve the community in which you live through leadership and service within civic organizations, faith communities, professional groups, volunteer services, and community advisory boards.
A piece of advice for students in your school?
Take time to get involved in the student organizations within the department. The relationships that you build within these groups through the co-curricular activities and leadership opportunities will carry you forward into your professional career.