Using Her Education to Keep the Community Healthy

Valparaiso University alumna Kayle Lathrop ’20, ’21 MPH, has dedicated her career to keeping the public healthy and informed, a passion helped by the community and opportunities she experienced during her time pursuing her bachelor of science in public health (BSPH) and master of public health (MPH) at Valparaiso University.

The BSPH program is designed to provide its students with the knowledge and skills to identify the needs of populations, plan initiatives that promote and protect the health of communities of all types, and evaluate the success of those initiatives. Kayle currently uses those skills to serve as the health equity and prevention manager at Gila County Health and Emergency Management in Globe, Arizona. She oversees grants for teen pregnancy prevention, prescription opioid overdose prevention, and tobacco-free environments, as well as grants for improving the public understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic and identifying and addressing disparities within the community.

Kayle was convinced to pursue her goal of helping communities at the University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions due to the feeling of ease that came with Valpo’s welcoming atmosphere. She recalled the intimacy of the classes and the connections she was able to make as highlights of her program. Kayle also credits her professors, Amy Buckenmeyer, Ph.D., MPH, RN, CPH, and Zheng Li, Ph.D., MPH, CPH, with helping her achieve her potential.

“I feel as if they prepared me incredibly well with public health and real-world knowledge during both undergraduate and graduate school,” Kayle says. “I always felt supported and encouraged to push myself to be the best version of me that I could be.”

Professor Buckenmeyer recalled the passion Kayle had for serving communities in need of help, and the drive she demonstrated in working to make a difference.

“Kayle was a leader in our program, from being the first president of our student association to organizing service projects for those devastated by hurricanes in Texas,” Professor Buckenmeyer says. “She was eager to lead and serve both on campus and in under-resourced areas across the United States. Her passion for the field of public health has been apparent since day one.”

Kayle’s academic career at Valpo offered her unique opportunities to not only expand her knowledge of public health, but the various ways in which that knowledge could be applied through internships. While working on her bachelor’s, Kayle was given the chance to contribute to the public health of her hometown of Monmouth, Illinois. Working with the Warren County Health Department, Kayle got out into the field and gathered essential data for keeping her community safe from a dangerous disease.

“I trapped and tested mosquitoes for West Nile Virus,” Kayle says. “I also assisted with various health department projects.”

After completing her bachelor’s degree, Kayle took an additional year to complete her MPH, taking advantage of Valpo’s BSPH to MPH program. This program provides eligible students with a unique opportunity to complete both the bachelor of science in public health and master of public health degrees in five years, participating in graduate-level health courses during their senior year.

While in her fifth year, Kayle took an internship with Meals on Wheels, a national organization that fights the hunger and isolation issues prevalent in the senior citizen community. The organization provides food delivery and companionship for those with mobility issues and communal gathering spaces for those able to leave the home. During this internship, Kayle was able to use her education and experience to help make a difference in the lives of those in need of assistance both with keeping food on the table and keeping their mental well-being.

“Our team implemented Healthy Ideas, a program targeted at identifying and helping with depression symptoms in older adults who are isolated,” Kayle says.

On top of her studies, Kayle was a member of the Public Health Student Association (PHSA) as well as Valpo’s Dance Ensemble.

“I very much enjoyed working with Kayle as she gained knowledge, skills, and behaviors important to public health professionals,” Professor Buckenmeyer says. “I had no doubt that she would excel upon graduation from our MPH program.”

Looking back, Kayle cited the feeling of home that she first felt upon visiting, and the opportunities to improve that have made an impact on her future.

“Valpo gives you a tight-knit atmosphere, small class sizes, more one-on-one time with professors, and opportunities you won’t necessarily find with a larger school,” Kayle says.