Jessica Boyer '06, associate director of assessment and accreditation, has been elected to the Executive Board of the American Public Health Association (APHA). APHA is the world’s largest professional public health organization, with approximately 25,000 members and an annual meeting attracting more than 10,000 attendees.   

“This is our professional organization. It’s where we come together to make an impact,” Boyer says. “I’m honored to be part of the College of Public Health’s ongoing role in its leadership.” 

Founded in 1872, APHA connects professionals from diverse health fields and advocates nationally on public health issues through evidence-based science. APHA publishes the American Journal of Public Health, as well as The Nation’s Health, providing access to cutting-edge public health science and news. Additionally, APHA members develop policy statements to guide the public and policymakers on a range of issues, including reproductive health, COVID precautions, gun violence, mental health, and health equity. “We have to be out in front of these issues, sharing evidence-based science that can inform decision-makers,” Boyer says.  

Boyer previously was president of the Pennsylvania Public Health Association, a state affiliate of APHA. She became chair of APHA’s Council of Affiliates, which convenes the state affiliates. In 2023, Boyer was nominated to run for an Executive Board seat. At the APHA annual meeting in November 2023, APHA’s Governing Council elected Boyer to a four-year term on the Executive Board.  

At Temple, Boyer oversees the accreditation process for undergraduate and graduate programs, reporting to nine specialized accrediting bodies. She works with the executive team of the college to implement its vision and mission, through development and assessment of existing and new programs. She also closely monitors student performance data on retention and progression and works with program directors and advisors to respond to student needs.   

Boyer earned her master of public health and master of social work from Temple, then spent time in public health practice at Public Health Management Corporation. “As a senior program officer, I was responsible for developing and evaluating public health programs, and that translates well to the work I do here within the college,” she says. "You collect information, review it, identify what is working well and where you can make improvements.”    

She returned to Temple in 2012 as an assistant professor and associate director of graduate programs in the department of public health. She taught fieldwork courses and program planning courses. “I was able to translate to the classroom what I spent over a decade doing,” she says. “A lot of that work is what I was trained to do in Temple’s programs.” She continues to serve as adjunct instructor for CPH courses when the opportunity to teach arises. 

“I consider myself fortunate to have worked with Jessica since she started here as a faculty member,” says Jennifer Ibrahim, dean of the College of Public Health. “She cares deeply about the health of our communities, and her seat on the APHA Executive Board will allow her to translate her passion for public health into policies that govern the nation’s largest public health organization. It is wonderful to see Jessica’s dedication and leadership recognized by her peers—and we are proud that she is Temple Made.”