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SPPH Faculty Q&A: Assistant Professor Ashley Havlicak

Ashley Havlicak

Meet SPPH Clinical Assistant Professor and CHP Emphasis Coordinator Ashley Havlicak: 

What originally encouraged you to teach and work in the public health/health space?

Health promotion is the center of my passion, and helping people is why I do the work. My encouragement began when I was young so you could say that I’ve been an enthusiast of public health since childhood.

My first informal teachers of health promotion were my grandparents who I spent a lot of time with. They exemplified caretaking of family and being involved in our small-town community. I visited nursing homes with them regularly to perform musical ensembles, and my grandma was a CNA at the hospital. I remember the delighted faces in the crowd as we sang duets of old-time songs during these visits. I didn’t realize it then, but this was my first interaction with our healthcare system. It was during these visits that I learned health was so much more than healthcare. I took notice of what I would later learn are social determinants of health, and how these had much more impact on people’s quality of life than medicine or the diagnoses on the patient charts.

These experiences led me to want to work and teach in the field of public health.  I have pursued all of my education at BSU.  First with a Bachelor’s degree in health education and promotion, then a Master’s degree in public health, and now I am enrolled in the public and population health leadership PhD with SPPH.

What brought you to Boise State University?

I have always been driven by curiosity and creativity.  This makes me passionate about learning and I consider myself to be a lifelong learner. I started my educational journey at BSU in 2006 as a student. Then my professional experience began in 2018 when I took a position as a research project manager.  I knew in my very first semester at BSU that I wanted to be a professor someday. I am thrilled to have seen that dream come true and now be able to make a positive impact in the learning and lives of students.

What course or topic are you most excited to teach and why?

I am most excited about the mental health course that we are offering students.  This is a brand new class that was driven by the need that SPPH and community stakeholders saw around promoting mental health and well-being.  It’s been an awesome class to teach and I know it will only continue to get better and better as we keep offering it.  Students are really excited and engaged to have a class where they get to learn about and explore aspects of their own mental health and well-being.

What sort of research or project (current or future) are you excited about and why?

This is still developing for me as I am a new faculty member, and just entering year two of my PhD program.  I’m grateful to be in a place where I’m supported by a wonderful and talented team at SPPH.  This gives me the opportunity to be focused on growing professionally now as a result of that support.  I am most excited to be focused on how I can be a rockstar teacher at the moment, while having the opportunity to also explore the impact that I want to make in the future.

What do you enjoy doing for fun?

I love doing things that allow me to explore my curiosity and creativity. Painting, growing and arranging flowers, crafting, and photography are a few ways that I like to spend my time. I have kept a journal since I was seven years old so I enjoy reflective writing and also writing poetry. I have a wonderful social network and really enjoy time with my family and friends. I also love anything outdoors: hiking, walks along the river, camping and exploring nature.