Alumna Alecia Kennedy selected for Humana Foundation Position

Alecia Kennedy, MPH ‘10

Before her recent selection as Evaluation and Impact Consultant for Louisville’s Humana Foundation, Alecia Kennedy spent the last four years freelancing in public health. She consulted with community groups assisted in evaluation and helped manage projects. Alecia collected data for the City Parks Alliance, and worked on a grant-funded position with SPHIS. Alecia credits the relationships established there as the catalyst that led to her job at Humana.

“I think it is important for students and alumni to remember that the public health world in Louisville is very small – there are informal networks of information,” she said.

A member of the SPHIS grant team informed Alecia of the potential position, spurring her to apply.

“It is important to maintain relationships with people in public health – whether you work with them or sit on a board … just staying in touch.”

She acknowledges the past four years consulting helped her through the rigorous interview process.

“I had taken on so many different roles in projects that were interesting, giving me a wide array of experiences .” She advises SPHIS students and alumni to keep an open mind, and “just do it” when given an opportunity to work on something interesting.  She explains the experience gained in a wide range of work settings will be attractive to employers looking for people who have a variety of skills.

She advises, “Keep involved – keep relationships open. If you can, take on a temporary work or a part time job in a cause you believe in. Don’t be overly concerned about what it’s adding to your resume or how you will benefit from it – you will realize that later.”

Alecia is looking forward to having significant input in how grantees are evaluated, and the thought processes behind grant funding decisions. “So often in public health you are on the other side of it, where you are trying to get grant money or getting paid through grant funding. Being a part of a change in the way they think about their grants – I am looking forward to that.”