Austin Ulrich

What does public health mean to you?

Public health is being a helping hand to the community using the best attributes of ourselves. We all have special capabilities than can be used in different scenarios under the large public health umbrella and reach people of all backgrounds.

Why did you choose to study public health at WVU?

Morgantown seemed like a place where the community was proud to be from when I visited. The community of WVU was and has been very inviting to students from all backgrounds, and they make sure to let you know that once you step on campus. From the faculty to your first Mountaineer football game, you can feel the passion for the culture here.

Have any members of the faculty or staff influenced you in a unique way?

Scot McIntosh takes good care of everyone in our program to make sure they are prepared for the future. He always makes sure to get to know his students and their interests so that they will have a bright future in their career path that not only makes use of their skills but also their passions. If it wasn't for my advising meetings with him when I started at WVU, I would not have realized as soon as I did that I could turn a hobby of mine into a career.

Tell us about your field placement experience or other hands-on experiences.

My field placement experience was at the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. During my time at WIC, I used the skills I learned during the first year of my graduate program to develop a plan to improve lead testing among Monongalia, Marion and Harrison counties by analyzing their data over the prior year and suggesting strategies to improve their numbers in the future.

What would you tell prospective students about WVU and the School of Public Health?

The WVU School of Public Health is a community full of faculty that cares for the cause and field they work in. They want to develop future public health members that can aid the community in creating a brighter tomorrow. No matter how much experience you come into the program with, they will ensure that you will leave with the skills and confidence to enter the workforce and succeed.

What advice would you give to your freshman self?

Do not sweat the small stuff and find a community that cares about your well-being. There will be people that want to see us succeed and some that want to see us fail. Seek out the positive relationships, and you will start to thrive in both school and your personal relationships.

How have your experiences in the School of Public Health helped prepare you for your future?

During the Applied Practice Experience, you learn that you are more capable of working in the public health environment than you may have thought before. Just within the first year of the graduate program, I gained many skills and techniques to analyze and develop new strategies that can improve the teams I work within.

What do you plan to do upon completion of your degree?

I intend to get my certification to be a personal trainer. I want to apply to be a wellness and fitness coordinator where I will help train individuals to create a healthy lifestyle for themselves, as well as plan events to boost physical health and awareness in the community I serve.