Taylor Shultz

Briefly describe your current role as a public health practitioner.

As the director of awareness and development at the Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center, my role involves strategically promoting the center's mission to protect and support children and families affected by abuse. I focus on increasing community engagement, fostering partnerships and ensuring sustainable funding to enhance our services.

Why did you choose WVU for your public health education?

Being from West Virginia, WVU was a natural choice for my higher education. WVU's strong community ties and commitment to addressing local and global health challenges made it an ideal setting for my studies. Like many others, I did not initially pursue a degree in public health, but as I delved deeper into my interests, I realized that public health was a helping profession that truly aligned with my values and aspirations. It offered me the opportunity to make a tangible difference in people's lives, which resonated strongly with my personal mission of service and advocacy.

How did WVU and your experiences in the School of Public Health prepare you to be a public health professional?

WVU and the School of Public Health played a crucial role in shaping my career as a public health professional by providing exposure to different careers and academic and personal opportunities, facilitating multiple internships that allowed me to build my skills and fostering a supportive environment through dedicated professors and staff. Additionally, engaging in service-learning projects allowed me to apply classroom knowledge to real-world situations, emphasizing the importance of community involvement and the significant impact public health professionals can have on improving community health and well-being.

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

Before my field placement, I sought out an internship on my own at the Monongalia County Health Department with their public information officer. This internship really helped me develop many of the skills I use today at Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center, specifically with outreach to the community.

For my field placement, I was placed at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Morgantown, where I was also employed at the time. During my internship I was able to learn about backend operations and development tasks--things I didn’t get to do as a part of my job. Since my placement was during the beginnings of the COVID-19 pandemic, we were navigating through ways to help families safely. A key project I contributed to was the Rapid Meals Home Cooked initiative, which allowed volunteers to donate ingredients for staff to prepare meals for families, ensuring they received home-cooked food while adhering to safety protocols. This placement was transformative, expanding my skill set and deepening my commitment to community service and nonprofit work.

In addition to these opportunities, I also interned with the health department a second time. This internship was for my minor in human services and was also during the pandemic. I was able to gain hands-on public health experience by helping with testing and vaccine sites for COVID-19.

What advice would you give today’s public health students?

My advice to students would be to get involved--join clubs and organizations that resonate with you, talk with professors, staff and other students, and seek out internships. This is the time to learn what you like and dislike--learn from these experiences and start thinking about who you want to be and how you want to impact the world around you.

What does public health mean to you?

Public health represents a commitment to the well-being of communities, ensuring equitable access to healthcare services and promoting healthy lifestyle choices. Public health means striving for a healthier future for all.