About the Program
Program Personnel
Mary Aquilino, PhD, RN Associate Dean for MPH and Undergraduate Programs
Dr. Aquilino earned a BS in nursing from Binghamton University, a MS in nursing with a family nurse practitioner certificate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a PhD in education from the University of Iowa. She completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the UI College of Nursing in 1997. Dr. Aquilino is a clinical associate professor in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health. For over 30 years, she has worked in the areas of women’s health and maternal/child health providing family planning services to college students, teaching maternal/child health to undergraduate and graduate nursing and public health students, and supervising student clinical rotations in prenatal care, labor and delivery, and postpartum/newborn care. Her scholarly work includes research and publication in the areas of sexuality, sexual development, unintended pregnancy and tobacco use. Currently, she is collaborating on a project to improve women’s contraceptive knowledge, attitudes and behavior via community pharmacies. Dr Aquilino has directed the MPH program for 6 years.
Kot Flora Placement Advisor, Master of Public Health Program
Kot Flora received a BA in English from the University of Iowa in 1973 and attended Kirkwood Community College (1976 – 77) to gain training and job skills in the environmental health field. During her 3 decades of practice-based public health experience working for Johnson County Public Health, she worked in environmental health as an inspector, communicable disease control as an investigator, HIV/AIDS as an educator, emergency preparedness as a response coordinator & administration as a manager and department deputy director. Kot currently works in the MPH Program as Placement Advisor and is available to students as they plan their job search.
Lexie Just Assistant Director, Master of Public Health Program
Lexie Just earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing from the University of Northern Iowa in 1999, as well as a Certificate in International Business. She has worked in the MPH Program Office since December 2006. Prior to working for the MPH Program, Lexie was employed as an Department Coordinator/Academic Advisor at Kirkwood Community College. Lexie enjoys working with students from the time they inquire about the program through the time they become alumni. In addition, Lexie assists the MPH Program Director in program coordination and management.
Ryan Landi Graduate Research Assistant, Master of Public Health Program
Ryan is originally from Rockford, Illinois. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Augustana College (Rock Island, IL) in 2009. He is a third year dual degree Master of Public Health (MPH) in Policy and Master of Health Administration (MHA) student. He recently finished an administrative internship (summer 2011) with the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System in Iowa City (ICVAHCS) working on Emergency Preparedness and will be starting an Interdisciplinary Fellowship on Aging (2011-2012). This year, Ryan will continue to serve the environmental group, ECO Hawk, which he helped form with other College of Public Health (CPH) students in 2009. He will also continue serving on the Iowa Student Association of Healthcare Leaders (ISAHL). As a GRA for the MPH program, Ryan will meet with prospective students and keep them updated with current MPH events via Twitter and Facebook and can be followed on his blog located on the CPH’s website.
Katie Jones Graduate Research Assistant, Master of Public Health Program
Katie is from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She graduated from Grinnell College, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in History in 2009. She is a second year Master of Public Health student in the Community and Behavioral Health department. She is the Mentor/Mentee Program Coordinator for the College of Public Health Student Association and is a volunteer sexual assault advocate for the Rape Victim Advocacy Program. In the past, she has worked as a GRA in the University of Iowa Epidemiology department and as the Mother-Child Wellness program intern in the Grinnell Regional Medical Center. In addition to being a GRA for the MPH department, she works for the Iowa Cancer Consortium. She was recently honored and awarded University of Iowa Student Employee of the Year for her work at the Consortium. In her role as GRA, Katie helps coordinate the bi-weekly MPH seminars and corresponds with prospective and current students.
Laurie Walkner, MA, RN Practicum Course Faculty
Laurie Walkner earned BS in nursing from Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and a MA in instructional design and technology from the University of Iowa. She has worked in family planning, clinical research in the area of reproductive endocrinology, occupational safety and health, community health planning, public health preparedness and public health workforce development. She has developed curriculum for academic and continuing education courses. She has served as the Coordinator for the MPH Practicum Experience since 1999. She advises students on their practicum experience and works closely with practice partners to identify practice opportunities.
Pamela Willard, MS, RN Practicum Course Faculty
Ms. Willard received her BS in nursing from Cornell University-New York Hospital School of Nursing, and an MS in Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health from the University of Iowa. While working as a public health nurse in Pennsylvania, California and Iowa, her interests were focused on maternal/child health. She became a faculty member in the UI College of Nursing in 1985, first as a lecturer and then clinical assistant professor, teaching public health nursing at the BSN and MSN levels. She was director of the RN to BSN progression program for several years. She holds a secondary appointment of clinical assistant professor in the College of Public Health and has served as a member of the Johnson County (IA) Board of Health, as well as numerous public health related committees at the local and state level.
In 2005 Pam joined the staff in the College of Public Health to assist in coordinating the MPH Practicum. She advises students about their practicum experience including site selection and related concerns.