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Mary Siembida '06

Degree: Bachelor of Arts degree in Health Promotion and Fitness.

What she's doing now: I am a Health Educator at the Licking County Health Department in Newark Ohio. Currently, I work under a grant funded by the Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation (OTPF).

There are many objectives in the area of tobacco prevention and cessation such as: youth prevention, tobacco-free worksites, tobacco-free schools, and the promotion of the Ohio Tobacco Quit Line.

One of the most exciting parts of my job is implementing the LifeSkills Training Program in the sixth grade. This program is a remarkably effective, research-validated, substance abuse prevention program. It helps students develop essential skills found to significantly reduce tobacco, alcohol, drug abuse, and violence.

I also have the opportunity to work with the local Stand Team to spread the word about the dangers of tobacco. We have been able to do a number of fun activities to debunk commonly held tobacco myths.

There are a number of times where I have met with legislators to discuss matters related to tobacco. We have informed them on current issues, accomplishments, upcoming activities, and the future of the youth in our county.

Her Advice: Some advice for anyone interested in choosing this career path would be to keep in mind that society is always changing, as well as public health education needs. You must be prepared to re-direct your focus in an instant.

This career path requires multi-tasking, which can be beneficial, but can lead to disorganization. This can be a challenge, but when the task is always changing it makes things more interesting and fun.