Student Spotlight: Monica Roe - on exploring disability through research and children's literature
by Alison Miller |
Monica Roe has the sort of diverse professional life that many people only dream of. After working as a physical therapist in rural Alaska for a decade, she returned to school at 蘑菇视频, where she enrolled in the Master of Public Health (MPH) program in the Division of Population Health Sciences. Simultaneously, she鈥檚 also cultivated a successful career as a children鈥檚 literature author. Both her writing and her graduate coursework explore themes of disability in rural settings, a topic that she's passionate about. As she looks forward to finishing her graduate degree in a few short months, Monica reflects on her journey as a public health professional and the things that made her successful as a student.
Name: Monica Roe
Major: Public Health Practice
Anticipated graduation date: Summer 2026
Unit: Division of Population Health Sciences
Hometown: Sandy Run, South Carolina
What brought you to the 蘑菇视频 College of Health?:
I came to Alaska as an early-career physical therapist and gained clinical experience
in Ketchikan, then in Nome and the surrounding Bering Strait region communities. After
about ten years as an itinerant PT consultant in K-12 schools throughout much of Western
Alaska, along with developing a parallel career as a disability-focused children's
author, I became interested in more macro-level questions of health and disability
access. 蘑菇视频 was a perfect choice for me to pursue these questions in an interdisciplinary
way via their graduate public health program.
Why did you choose the degree you are pursuing?:
With a background as a clinical provider in rural, remote, and otherwise underserved
areas, an MPH degree made a lot of sense. It has allowed me to understand the complex
health determinants which affect the ability to deliver effective services and improve
health outcomes for both individuals and communities.
What organizations are you involved in on campus?:
As a member of the Graduate Public Health Program's Student Advisory Council (SAC),
I have had the opportunity to get to know my program professors on a more collegial
level while advocating for the interests of fellow program students.
Have you been involved with research or any other experience you鈥檇 like to tell us
about?:
I am currently completing my MPH thesis research, which is a qualitative exploration
of community perspectives on disability-inclusive disaster preparedness in Alaska's
Bering Strait region. In November 2024, I had the opportunity to present a poster
on my research proposal at the 18th International Congress for Circumpolar Health
in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
What words of wisdom do you have for underclassmen or youth who are still considering
their options after high school?:
Don't underestimate what you could be capable of and don't be afraid to ask for guidance
and mentorship from people who are doing the thing you'd like to be doing.
Who is your favorite professor or staff member and why?:
Dr. Jenny Miller, because she is unfailingly kind, makes all of her students and colleagues
feel like they matter, and is a strong scholar and advocate for the Alaska disability
community.
Tell us about an obstacle you overcame.:
I was born and raised in a small, working-class farming community without a lot of
exposure to the university world. Transitioning to the rhythms, expectations, and
unspoken customs of a college campus and community was challenging, and there were
plenty of times when I questioned whether I belonged. Thankfully, having found my
niche in both rural health and in writing rural- and disability-centered children's
literature, I now get to meld both the practical and the academic in creative and
rewarding ways. I also love talking with and encouraging young people from non-university
backgrounds who dream of carving a place for themselves in the academic and/or publishing
world.
What is your secret to college success?:
Be bold, curious, and open-minded. Take a class in a subject you never thought much
about before. Apply for things, even if you don't think you'd ever be considered 鈥�
you never know what might happen, and the only way to guarantee rejection is to never
try in the first place.
Get to know your professors, your classmates, and the folks who clean your classrooms and remove snow from the paths you walk between classes. Show the same courtesy and care to everyone on campus, regardless of the presence or absence of letters behind someone's name.
What has been your proudest moment?:
One of my proudest moments was when my first novel was accepted for publication. I've
written a number of books since then, but I don't think anything can quite match the
rush of getting that very first offer call.