The Office of Public Health Practice Alumni Spotlight Series: Allison Kemner ('08)

08/08/2024

Allison Kemner ('08), a Saint Louis University graduate and senior vice president and chief research officer at Parents as Teachers National Center recently did a Q&A with the Office of Public Health Practice about public health and learning at SLU.

What is the most important thing you learned at SLU?

At SLU, I honed my research skills, learning the intricacies of conducting research, collecting data, and analyzing it—skills I use daily in my current role. Additionally, SLU equipped me with essential communication skills for effective teamwork with professionals, as well as for collaboration and partnership in real-world scenarios. Networking was another crucial learning from my time at SLU. One of my professors was a mentor for me, I gained an internship at her organization, and later was employed by that organization.

Where are you currently working and what was your path to this job?

I serve as the senior vice president and chief research officer at Parents as Teachers National Center, an international nonprofit based in St. Louis, Missouri. We support programs across all 50 states and six countries to deliver home visiting and parent support services by partnering with families with children prenatal to kindergarten reaching over 200,000 families annually through a network of 9,000 professionals. In my role, I oversee the organization’s research and learning agenda which includes overseeing 21 research and learning projects including 6 grants funded by the National Institutes of Health, data collection and reach and impact analysis on our services, using data to drive continuous model improvement, and partnering with the most esteemed research institutions and organizations.

My career began as a research assistant in the health communications research laboratory while at SLU. Post-graduation, I worked as an income development officer at the American Cancer Society, where I coordinated volunteers and sought sponsorships, supported health communication activities, and leveraged my communication and organizational skills. Soon after, I worked at Transtria, a research and consulting firm in St. Louis, where I managed national, state, and local research and evaluation projects, including one large evaluation funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for their Healthy Kids and Healthy Communities initiative. After Transtria, I joined Parents as Teachers National Center, where I've been for almost ten years, progressing within the organization to my current leadership position.

What are you most proud of, professionally or otherwise?

Personally, I am most proud of my family and children. They bring such great joy to my life and being a mother is so rewarding. Professionally, I take pride in contributing to innovative and cutting-edge research and learning projects and seeing the impact of Parents as Teachers on the lives of families, children, and communities. Any parent can benefit from support. Much of our research seeks to gather family voice and evidence that can inform improvements of the program to continue to meet the unique needs of the diverse families we serve. My work has involved significant partnerships with leading academic and research organizations, resulting in major funding from federal grants and philanthropic donors including six currently funded National Institutes of Health grants. I am also proud to be a SLU alum, and to stay connected to the College of Public Health and Social Justice. I’ve had the opportunity to serve as an adjunct professor for three semesters and an internship preceptor since 2010, where I've supported over 30 students. I also serve on the External Advisory Board. It is important to me that I am utilizing the Jesuit values and giving back to SLU and the community that has helped to shape who I am today.

What is your best piece of advice for current public health students?

School goes by so fast; it can be hard sometimes to slow down and embrace the journey of learning and growth. Establish this time as the start of a lifelong journey of learning. Reach out to professors and other public health professionals to learn about their journey and what brought them to their position. When you graduate, find a place that has the same values as you, and keep work/life balance to avoid burnout. And along the way, take time to reflect on your experiences.

Hear more from Allison on CPHSJ’s podcast “Public Health Unscripted” on Spotify.

College for Public Health and Social Justice

The Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice is the only academic unit of its kind, studying social, environmental and physical influences that together determine the health and well-being of people and communities. It also is the only accredited school or college of public health among nearly 250 Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States. Guided by a mission of social justice and focus on finding innovative and collaborative solutions for complex health problems, the college offers nationally recognized programs in public health and health administration.