From her roots in the Appalachian mountains of East Tennessee, where service to others was a family cornerstone, Jennifer found her calling in Alaska’s remote communities. She was drawn to Bethel, Alaska after college, driven by her interest in rural water and dedication to working alongside Indigenous populations. She counts herself fortunate to have been able to live and work within the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta for many years since then.

As an environmental public health generalist, Jennifer brings expertise across multiple disciplines – from water and wastewater systems to air quality,
healthy homes, institutional health, and epidemiology. Her decade-long leadership of an environmental health program serving fifty underserved communities showcases her commitment to public health equity. Today, she balances her role at APU with her position as an Epidemiologist at the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, where she conducts applied research in environmental health.

Jennifer’s academic foundation includes an environmental health science undergraduate degree, complemented by a master’s in public health and a graduate certificate in global health. Her professional leadership extends to key roles in the Alaska Environmental Health Association and the American Academy of Sanitarians. Beyond her professional pursuits, she embraces an active lifestyle – running, cycling, and participating in fitness events. She shares a passion for public health with her husband, and they can often be found outdoor adventuring with their children.

In recognition of the APU Environmental Public Health program’s foundation, Jennifer highlights Joe Sarcone’s instrumental role in its development. He shared a favorite quote by Inupiaq Elder Mary Ann Warden that has become a motto of the program: “You have to have your heart glad when you are serving the people.”