Dr. Kristin Osiecki

• PhD 2013 - University of Illinois at Chicago
• MS 2011 - University of Illinois at Chicago

I am motivated to learn and evolve as an educator to provide engaging and integrative curriculum to encourage students to build a foundation in theory while developing critical thinking skills. My interdisciplinary academic background in the public health field allows me to approach dynamic public health issues from a variety of perspectives. My experience includes the development and implementation of courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels both in the classroom and online.

I look at the effectiveness of incorporating experiential learning strategies into the classroom which includes: a combination of theory and application, assessments that make connections between learning and real-world situations, and reflection to develop personal insights. I work with undergraduate public health researchers and the importance of mentoring in evolving critical thinking and soft skills. Space and place matter, requiring a multidisciplinary approach to investigate dynamic and complex public health issues in our communities. Furthermore, the built and physical environment, the human‐made spaces that surround us, such as pollution, land use, age of housing, or food deserts shape the way in which we live, work, and play. My public health research focuses on collaborating with teams using GIS methodologies to solve complex public health issues in our communities by approaching the problem from different perspectives.