Shannon Litteral

Responsibilities

1. Walk With Ease Leader Led self-directed Walk With Ease programs for older adults and employees. Provided guidance, motivation, and education to participants throughout the 6-week program. Helped collect participant feedback and supported program evaluation efforts. 2. Public Health Campaign Work Assisted in planning and launching the Spring Into Summer campaign to promote physical activity statewide. Created outreach materials, organized emails, and coordinated logistics to support local implementation. Helped develop an Iowa-specific Move Your Way guidebook for future use by counties and organizations. 3. Outreach and Engagement Represented AmeriCorps and Iowa State University at community expos and public health events. Ran information booths, answered questions, and helped recruit participants for Walk With Ease. Supported statewide outreach by contacting senior centers, employers, and county leaders.

Accomplishments

My greatest accomplishment during my internship was helping lead the successful first-year launch of the Spring Into Summer campaign, a statewide initiative designed to increase physical activity through worksites and community partners. I played a key role in planning, outreach, and promotion by coordinating with local leaders, managing campaign materials, and supporting participant recruitment. Seeing the campaign gain traction across Iowa and knowing I helped lay the foundation for future rollouts was incredibly rewarding. It showed me the power of strategic public health efforts and how collaboration at the local level can create lasting impact.

Learning experience

One of the greatest lessons I learned was the importance of having a strong foundation when running a public health campaign. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes planning, coordination, and communication that’s needed to ensure things run smoothly and reach the right people. I also learned how to lead individuals through an exercise program and support them on their fitness journey. Being part of their progress both physically and mentally taught me how impactful encouragement, structure, and consistency can be when promoting healthier habits.

What advice would you give?

My advice is to job shadow as many professionals in public health as you can. Public health is such a broad field, and seeing different roles firsthand can help you figure out what areas you’re most passionate about. Take advantage of internships, volunteer opportunities, and campus events to build connections and explore your interests early on. The more experiences you gain, the more confident you’ll feel in your path.