Hometown: Juneau and Fairbanks, Alaska
Major: Master’s in Public Health (MPH)
Future Plans: Work as an epidemiologist or researcher on chronic or infectious diseases

Jon Niederhauser chose the University of Illinois Springfield because of the affordability and
flexibility the MPH program had to offer. “I saw that the MPH program offered many graduate
certificates along with countless opportunities for tuition assistance,” he said. Niederhauser is an
intern at the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) as part of the UIS Graduate Public
Service Internship Program. “At IDPH, I’ve worked on many projects related to diabetes and
cardiovascular disease burden, as well as communication efforts for the mpox (monkeypox)
outbreak and a state-level community health worker analysis,” he said. He has also assisted the
public health department on campus with its accreditation process of the Council on Education
for Public Health (CEPH).

Niederhauser enjoys the faculty and staff we have at UIS. “I cannot count how many times my
professors or GPSI leaders have advocated and helped me grow professionally,” he said.
Following graduation from UIS, he plans to work in a state government or higher education as an
epidemiologist or researcher on chronic or infectious diseases.

Leadership is lived at UIS. Every Day.