Seth Bodnar President at University of Montana | Official Website
Seth Bodnar President at University of Montana | Official Website
The University of Montana's School of Journalism has introduced a new concentration in public health to its Environmental Science and Natural Resource Journalism graduate program. This addition, known as the Environmental Public Health Journalism concentration, enhances the journalism program’s collaborative efforts across campus by pairing students with experts and researchers at UM’s School of Public and Community Health Sciences.
Nadia White, director of journalism graduate programs, expressed enthusiasm about the initiative: “It feels really affirming to make these kinds of connections across campus,” she said. “It’s what makes this campus special.”
Students pursuing this concentration will enroll in public health courses alongside their journalism studies and join public health research groups. White noted that her peers at other institutions are often surprised by UM's willingness to collaborate across disciplines, allowing journalism students to work closely with researchers.
Erin Semmens, an associate professor at UM’s School of Public and Community Health Sciences, initially had reservations about involving journalists in research groups. However, she stated that “the story lab class is set up in such a way where it takes all of that worry away,” providing a safe environment for researchers to communicate their work.
Lillian Poulsen, a first-year journalism graduate student focusing on the new concentration, meets monthly with her research group to discuss climate change's impact on public health. Poulsen described the experience as an excellent opportunity to engage with professionals while taking related courses. She is particularly interested in writing about wildfire smoke exposure's effects on aging populations and potential links to dementia risk.
Originally from Iowa, Poulsen initially aspired to be a doctor but found her passion elsewhere after reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic for her college newspaper. Her goal is to pursue projects like investigating Superfund sites' impacts in Montana and eventually write about public health and rural healthcare or work in science communications.
“I have always been passionate about medicine and health care and making sure people know how to improve their health,” Poulsen shared. “I was kind of thrust into reporting on health care, but I’m really glad I was.”
Contact: Dave Kuntz, UM director of strategic communications, 406-243-5659, dave.kuntz@umontana.edu.
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