WVU graduate to make impact in the U.S. Army through public health

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. ⏤ Graduate and enlisted U.S. Army soldier Katharine Swesey plans to use her public health knowledge in a place beyond the traditional setting–she’ll be using it in the U.S. Army.

“Public health is not only a way for me to share my dedication to my country but also to its people. During times when society loses faith in public health officials, I plan to do everything in my power to rebuild that trust between us and our communities who so desperately need this support,” she said.

This weekend, the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina native will graduate with a Masters in Public Health with an emphasis in social and behavioral sciences from the West Virginia University School of Public Health.

Swesey chose to pursue a degree in public health because of her passion for making communities a safe space and advocating for those in need.

“My experiences during my graduate program have taught me that sometimes you just need to be the loudest voice in order to make an impact on communities that need help. So often people go unheard, especially in rural communities,” Swesey said. “It’s important to always be an advocate and always put yourself in a position to help and educate people on why this is so important.”

Swesey has also gained knowledge and support from faculty and staff in the School of Public Health. Swesey was especially influenced by Ranjita Misra, professor in the School of Public Health Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

“Professor Misra has been the most outstanding mentor during my time here at WVU. Her passion for teaching shines through everything she does. She brings an enthusiasm to the table that is sometimes hard to find in our line of work,” Swesey said. “Professor Misra empowers her students to be as bold and as caring as possible, and I hope I can have that effect on people as well.”

Swesey has formed connections beyond the classroom. She had the opportunity to intern with Libera, a nonprofit organization that serves young women and girls in West Virginia to help shed light on their stories. During this experience, Swesey gained real-world, hands-on experience in the public health field.

“I learned so much about the needs of rural West Virginia girls and how important it is to consistently empower them to accomplish anything they can dream of,” she said.

Along with gaining public health experience, Swesey was part of the Green to Gold program, which allows enlisted soldiers to complete both a college degree and commission as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army. As a member of the program, she was part of Army ROTC at WVU.

Swesey has excelled in her academic program, named the Most Outstanding Graduate Student by faculty from the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences in the WVU School of Public Health.

Upon graduation, Swesey will be assessed onto active duty as a Military Intelligence Corps officer after training and an initial branch detail assignment as a Chemical Corps officer. Swesey continues to use her public health degree to help individuals share their voices in the U.S. Army and beyond.

Swesey’s advice to students interested in pursuing public health is to remember the importance of public health and its impact on communities.

“I know it sometimes seems like it’s a scary time in the public health community, but I promise this is when we need to work the hardest and become the most dependable for our communities,” Swesey said.

-WVU-

po/05/13/25

CONTACT: Lindsay Wiles
Director of Marketing and Communications
WVU School of Public Health
304.293.1699; lindsay.wiles@hsc.wvu.edu