Megan Litz, a recent graduate of the Penn State Master of Public Health (MPH) Program, has been selected out of 250 applicants to participate in Pennsylvania’s William Penn Fellowship Program. Litz, one of 10 fellows chosen by Governor Tom Wolf, recently started the two-year program.
Unveiled last year by the governor, the fellowship’s goal is to bring innovative ideas into state government, while strengthening key initiatives related to Jobs that Pay, Schools that Teach and Government that Works. During her time at the Capitol, Litz will work on public service projects tied to those core areas.
Litz is not new to working with Pennsylvania government. During her time in the MPH program, she was an intern with the Department of Health where she worked to educate the public about Hepatitis C and coordinated educational seminars throughout the state.
“During the William Penn Fellowship, I will be working at the intersection of research and policy to tackle current and emerging public health issues facing Pennsylvania,” Litz said. “Not only have I gained invaluable research and analytic skills through Penn State’s MPH program, but I have also had the opportunity to further cultivate my passion for public service. I am eager to use both the academic and professional skills I gained in the program during my fellowship to help craft effective, evidence-based policy initiatives to better the welfare of the state of Pennsylvania.”
During her academic career, Litz continued to strengthen her knowledge of public health through work as a lab technician and community health volunteer. In addition, she was part of Penn State Global Health Scholars Program and spent time studying at the Taipei Medical University. While abroad, she learned about how the structure of the Taiwanese healthcare system influenced health outcomes.
“We strive to create opportunities for our MPH students to engage in experiential learning,” said Dr. Wenke Hwang, director of the program. Through internships, community involvement, practicums, global travel and research projects, our students can gain valuable knowledge and experience from the fields that address issues of human health and health disparity. Going through such an intensive process within two short years, our students can stand out among their peers to become well-trained and insightful public health professionals. Megan certainly is a great example.”