Posted by Tomi Oluwasanmi is a May 2017 graduate of the Master of Public Health (MPH) in Epidemiology program at New York University’s College of Global Public Health. She is currently an Adjunct Lecturer at York College of the City University of New York.
How did you find your current job and what Wasserman services, or programs did you use, if any?
I received my current role as an adjunct lecturer at York College by writing an email to the Chair of the Department of Health Education. In the write up, I expressed my interest in teaching undergraduate public health courses and inquired if there were any open lecturer positions within the department. As part of the job search, I read NYU Wasserman’s industry guide on “education, counseling & social services” to broaden my knowledge on the type of interview questions that candidates are asked in academia.
What is your favorite part of your work?
My favorite part of my job is using case studies to introduce students to public health topics related to the American Health Care System as well as the wellness and health status of population groups residing in the U.S.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
The most challenging part of my job is making sure that I allocate enough time to prepare lecture notes grade homework assignments and develop exam questions for each of my classes. To overcome this challenge, I prepare my PowerPoint lecture slides in advance and seek out professional advice from my colleagues.
What classes or projects did you work on in school that helped prepare you for the work in your current position?
My involvement in dental health research projects and enrollment in core public health courses like ‘Global Health Policy and Management’, ‘Public Health Biology’ and ‘Global Issues in Social & Behavioral Health’.
Were there any jobs or internships you held in graduate school related to your current work?
While in graduate school I was a teaching assistant for the Epidemiology for Global Health course which is a class that is offered to undergraduate students who are interested in pursuing careers in the field of public health.
What advice do you have for current students looking for jobs in your industry?
My advice to current students would be to conduct a google search on where to find faculty-related jobs, be aware of the student body population that you are interested in teaching, market yourself in learning and how you can transfer other skills to your line of work (e.g. problem solving, public speaking skills).
What are some common misconceptions about your work?
Since I am new to the field of academia, I do not know enough to talk about common misconceptions. However, one thing that was unexpected is that my line of work includes completing administrative tasks and knowing when to apply the concept of emotional intelligence in the work place.
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