Meet Online MPH Student Jennifer Trudeau

by Heather Duncan

ALBANY, NY (April 25, 2024) - From working as a community health educator to becoming a critical care nurse, Jennifer Trudeau has always believed in the power of education. As a first-generation college student, she has never failed to take advantage of every learning opportunity afforded her. Although her path has not always been easy, Trudeau is grateful for the perspective it has given her and for the opportunity to bring her love of learning to her public health career. 

Reflecting on her upcoming graduation, Trudeau says that finishing her degree is “a bittersweet feeling.” 

She explains, “My parents had an extremely strong work ethic which they passed down to my brother and myself. It is that strong work ethic, determination, and grit that has led me to where I am today. I have faced adversities in my life, and it has made me a more understanding and empathetic person. They have also reinforced what is important in this life and made me more determined to make it a good one. I know my parents would be extremely proud of what I have accomplished, but it will be my husband and two young children that cheer me on as I cross the stage in May. My hope is that I am showing them that if you set goals and put in the hard work, you can achieve anything.” 

Trudeau is already an accomplished clinical health care worker as well as a public health professional. After receiving a BS in Community Health Education, her first professional role was as a public health educator at the Clinton County Health Department. But as a committed lifelong learner and now an educator, Trudeau was not content to stop there. 

“After a few years in that position, I felt like I wanted to do something more, so I returned to school to receive an AAS in Nursing. I then worked as a critical care nurse at my local hospital for a few years before I was drawn back to public health. I am currently employed as the quality coordinator at the Clinton County Health Department, where I serve as the accreditation coordinator for our public health accreditation.” 

Even after achieving these goals, Trudeau wanted to take her education even further. When a mentor and friend completed UAlbany’s online MPH program with the support of Public Health Leaders of Tomorrow (PHLOT) funding, Trudeau decided to enroll in the program herself. 

“My friend raved about the program and encouraged me to apply,” Trudeau explains. “It was the PHLOT funding that made my desire to further my education a reality. Without this funding, many brilliant public health professionals from disadvantaged communities would not have the opportunity to join the public health workforce. It’s so important that we give people the opportunities to improve their own lives and lift up their communities in the process.” 

Trudeau has already made a difference through her internship at the Clinton County Health Department, where she is also currently employed. 

“Local health departments are collecting and securing access to more raw data sets than in the past,” says Trudeau. “However, public health employees frequently receive dissimilar and often inadequate training in data analysis techniques. Even those with many years of experience have demonstrated limited competency in applying sound methodology. I wanted to use my internship to change that.” 

Using her skills as an educator and the training she received through the UAlbany School of Public Health online MPH program, Trudeau developed a resource guide and provided an in-service to increase staff self-efficacy in applying appropriate analytic techniques to data. 

“The brief in-service was successful in increasing staff knowledge needed to effectively interpret, understand, evaluate, and communicate data, as demonstrated by a 17.3 percentage point increase in post-test average score. Pre-tests demonstrated significant variation in baseline knowledge,” she explains. “This internship amplified my understanding of some of the challenges experienced in local public health. Compiling and sharing information that was broad enough to meet everyone’s needs yet tangible enough to keep them engaged to support their knowledge, skills, and abilities was challenging. This experience reinforced the importance of truly understanding your audience.” 

After graduation, Trudeau will continue working for the Clinton County Health Department, where she will continue to share her knowledge with others. Although working in the field while completing her MPH allowed her to immediately apply what she was learning, she is now looking forward to devoting all her energy to her role. 

“I am excited to focus more fully on my work without the added mental load of school. I’m not sure where the future will take me, but whatever I do, my ultimate goal is to leave it better than I found it.”