Rebecca Lemmons, who graduated from the School of Public and Population Health’s Master of Health Sciences program in 2010, was recognized as one of Idaho Business Review’s 2023 Women of the Year. This award recognizes and celebrates “women leaders from all over the state who have made their mark and are paving the way for leaders of today and into the future.”
Lemmons works for Saint Alphonsus as the regional director for community health and well-being. She is also on the boards of the Boise Public Library, Idaho Association for the Education of Young Children, Idaho Voices for Children and the Good Samaritan Home.
For Lemmons, the opportunity to be recognized among 50 other nominees was inspiring.
“It was incredibly motivating to hear how the other honorees work so tirelessly and with perseverance in their personal lives just as much as in their professional spaces,” she said. “I feel privileged to stand alongside this and previous years honorees in the spirit of leadership, mentorship and community service.”
Lemmons said she is most excited to continue and advance the important work that lifts the community.
“I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon — my job is to identify the greatest challenges impacting our community’s health and well-being, whether that’s attainable housing, food security or access to early childhood education, and childcare and to see how we can use our collective resources to address those issues.”
When asked how her education now influences her work, Lemmons said the school’s emphasis on policy, systems and environmental change shaped how she approaches her work in the community.
“I’ve been so grateful to be able to come back to BSU each year and guest lecture over the past decade for nursing, public health and health sciences students to share the reality and challenges of doing public and community health in Idaho,” Lemmons said. “It always feels like a homecoming.”