1. My educational background and work experience combine strengthening my qualifications to
serve the public health needs of mothers and children through health communication and
education.
My work experience has primarily revolved around teaching children in traditional and
non-traditional settings. I have spent time assisting in public school classrooms, a private
Montessori school, an early learning center, and in-home childcare for young children. I also
worked with a county health and human services department to serve youth in middle and high
school and spent several years as an outdoor educator. Even while working on a farm, I
coordinated a school garden and farm-to-school program in a middle school population.
Witnessing the health and wellness of children in these diverse settings has been the primary
factor leading to earn my master of public health degree with concentration on maternal and
child health
During my master’s program, I selected courses to deepen my knowledge of domestic
and global issues in maternal and child health and provide guidance on effective methods of
health communication. I was able to take advantage of volunteer experiences complementing
my coursework performing qualitative research regarding a community health worker training
along with data entry, administrative tasks, and statewide resource directory updates for the
Louisiana Office of Public Health.
The Louisiana Bureau of Family Health became my practicum site working primarily
with the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting programs. Through this work I
developed my skills in health communication, qualitative evaluation, community outreach, and
working with a wide variety of professionals at the state level. Joining with many different
groups and programs of the bureau gave me a view of and experience with the many facets of
society served by public health professionals.
I strive to maintain positive energy and strong commitment to any project with which I
am involved. Regardless of my role, I will seek collaboration with colleagues, lead projects as
appropriate, work independently, and will research and ask questions to address challenging
situations. My thorough, organized work style, employment history, and educational background
make me an ideal candidate for public health work with mothers and children.