Health, Wellness, & Climate Administration provides students with the skills they need to become leaders who are prepared to navigate the evolving state of public health and environmental problems. Climate change is already impacting weather patterns, and the increase in droughts, wildfires, and floods are projected to only increase in the coming decades. Governmental and economic structures have begun to adapt to these emergent challenges, creating a need for highly-trained individuals capable of working across a range of sectors both public and private who can think holistically about natural and human systems. Phoenix, Arizona, for example, has already appointed a “Chief Heat Officer” and other municipalities are racing to create similar offices and positions before it is too late. Whether the effects of extreme heat or the need to power medical equipment during a severe weather event, climate change will impact health and exacerbate inequities, but there remains a lack of training opportunities that emphasize these interconnections.
This program will equip graduates with the knowledge needed to implement systemic change that promotes wellness in the communities where they live and work. Students will follow a transdisciplinary course of study which will bridge the gap between diverse disciplines while leveraging academic knowledge for greater public good. The program will combine the tools and theories of natural resource conservation and public health to prepare for the shifts in climate and demographics which have already begun. For example, students will learn the differences between strategies of climate mitigation and adaptation to better understand how differing approaches can effect the life and livelihoods of the people they serve in their careers. After completing the degree, students will be able to analyze climate change impacts and apply interdisciplinary strategies to develop interventions in their home communities and professional fields.