Audrey Wilson has been part of many firsts with the School of Public and Population Health.
Wilson was the first student to join the school’s Health Data Analytics program. She was among the first to join the school’s Accelerated Master of Public Health program. And, two years ago, she took a chance on these budding programs by putting herself out there and attending the College of Health Science’s first Program Discovery Day.
Before officially joining Boise State University, Wilson spent the first semester of her freshman year at another institution. She began studying urban planning and quickly realized she was most interested in building healthier communities. From there, Wilson joined the School of Public and Population Health.
During her sophomore year, Wilson found herself looking for a new degree — a degree path where she could put her analytical skills to use while working on health issues that matter to her.
“Being from Boise, I knew I wanted to make a difference in my community and help others,” Wilson said. “I have always wanted to help people.”
This passion for community engagement and helping others led Wilson to an interest in the process of upstream health prevention and using data to prevent health issues before they become severe.
Wilson learned about the newly-offered Bachelor of Science in Health Data Analytics at COHS Program Discovery Day and officially found a degree to call home. There, she met with the program’s director, Kirk Ketelsen, where she learned about all the new opportunities available to her with this degree path.
“I could tell there was a real passion about this new program and that really drew me in,” Wilson said.
With a passion for public health and a strong interest in working with data, Ketelsen knew Wilson would be successful in the program.
“From the beginning, Audrey was determined to be more than just a student in the program,” Ketelsen said. “She really sets the bar for what an engaged and active participant in the HDA program looks like.”
Trying New Things
As part of the Health Data Analytics program, students, like Wilson, take part in a nine-month course through the Data Analytics for Statewide Health Lab (DASH Lab) where they work with local organizations to dissect and assess community health data.
During her time in the lab, Wilson worked closely with the St. Luke’s Applied Research Division to analyze motor vehicle-related concussion data collected by the St. Luke’s Sports Medicine Concussion Clinic. Wilson and other DASH students found that motor vehicle accident-related concussions show a longer recovery time and that females report higher average concussion scores and symptom measures compared to males.
Wilson presented this data research at the 2025 Undergraduate Research Showcase.
“I knew I would gain a lot of skills and experiences by joining this (Health Data Analytics) program,” Wilson said. “The DASH Lab sets you up to do actual community work.”
While others may be hesitant to join a newly developed degree, Wilson joined with the excitement of being the first student to help shape the program. Being part of a new program, Wilson said, has given her the opportunity to develop a variety of new interests and provide feedback on course content.
“This program has given me the opportunity to experiment and try new things,” Wilson said. “And, it has been really exciting to see how many other students are now benefiting from this.”
At the start of her senior year, Wilson joined the Accelerated Master of Public Health program with a Data-Driven Decision Making Emphasis. Continuing the theme of her collegiate career — Wilson was one of the first students to take part in this new accelerated option. Pairing graduate classes alongside her undergraduate course requirements has been no easy task, but one Wilson is happy to take on.
“Everyone in the program is there to support one another and is truly invested in one another’s growth,” Wilson said.
Getting Involved
As a student who initially found it difficult to feel connected to others during her early college years, Wilson wanted to help change that for other students by getting involved in a variety of on-campus opportunities. Wilson has helped run the College of Health Sciences social media accounts and has been highly involved as a peer health educator with Wellness Services.
“Supporting students and helping them navigate wellness brings me joy,” Wilson said. “I love getting to know other students I wouldn’t have known otherwise.”
From something as big as becoming the first student in a new program or as simple as attending COHS Program Discovery Day, Wilson urges other students to put themselves out there and use all the resources available to them at Boise State.
“Expose yourself to different pathways, try new things and trust yourself,” Wilson said.
Thanks to connecting with faculty and other students early on, Wilson’s undergraduate and graduate degrees are now setting her up for success in a wide range of public health careers. Whether it is conducting research in a hospital system or policy work in a public health department, Wilson hopes to stay in Idaho — working to build healthy communities in the state she loves.
Wilson will graduate with her undergraduate degree this spring and complete her graduate degree the following year.
“I am so happy that I get to push myself in these programs and really focus on my passions and interests,” Wilson said.