Aurora Rousseau

What inspired you to study public health?

During my undergraduate career I did work with sexual, mental, and nutritional health organizations. Through that experience I started to recognize how my lack of access to health education and resources negatively impacted multiple areas of my health. My short stint as a high school teacher showed me that I was not the only one to have that experience and I knew I wanted to pursue a path that could help to address these issues. I originally sought isolated paths of health, like physical activity and nutritional health but knew that no single aspect of health would fulfill my passion. Thus, I sought a public health program where I could provide education and resources for all the areas of health I was passionate about.

What has been the single most rewarding experience of your career/studies so far?

I’m not sure I have a single most rewarding experience… I would say that the culmination of education I have been able to provide to the student body at the University of Northern Colorado and the positive student feedback has been really rewarding.

What do you hope to accomplish in your career?

I hope to innovate the ways health education takes place on college campuses and continue to find new methods of providing health education and resources to a diverse student population.

Advice:

It takes time. Public health work does not provide an immediate outcome, but the small steps taken every day help to create a larger impact. Even if you don’t feel like you’re making a change, continue to do the work you believe in and you will make an impact.

Current Position June 2023:

Health Promotion Specialist at the University of Northern Colorado

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