Kristi Lewis guides undergraduate curriculum in public health as new program director
Virginia Tech’s public health undergraduate degree program is well established in its eighth year, but also young enough to still be evolving, all qualities that appeal to Kristi Lewis.
Lewis began her role as program director for the Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) within the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine in August, bringing more than two decades of academic experience to the position.
“It’s an existing program, but it's a relatively new program,” Lewis said. “I'm excited to work with the faculty. The faculty and the department are amazing and cutting edge. I see a lot of natural collaborations, both internal to the department and external, and within the college and external on campus and in the community.”
Lewis said she was drawn to Virginia Tech by the opportunity to work in an accredited public health program and to take on a leadership role.
"I like the idea of actually being in a CEPH-accredited public health program," Lewis said, referring to the Council on Education for Public Health. "I also like the idea that it's embedded in a veterinary school. I like how Virginia Tech has a well-known reputation, so that was a draw as well. The vet school is well known and well respected. I think that is a neat connection, as I am interested in One Health and rural health, growing up in a rural part of Virginia.”
Lewis is focusing on revising the program's practicum and capstone requirements and exploring collaboration opportunities within the Department of Population Health Sciences, across the veterinary college and throughout the broader Virginia Tech community.
“What I like about the BSPH program is that it has a curriculum that's very specific in public health, but there's also room for students to take electives or take on a minor, to make it their own,” Lewis said. “It’s a great opportunity for students who are pre-professional if they want to go on to medical, dental, or pharmacy school. It’s set up so that they can take the courses they need to go on to that program. We have a core of students who will go and get a Master’s in Public Health, but they can also get some skills that are transferable to various jobs.”
A particular strength of the program, Lewis noted, is the accelerated four-plus-one option, which allows undergraduates to complete both a bachelor's and master’s degree in public health in five years, saving students both time and money and potentially landing them in a career position sooner.
Before joining Virginia Tech, Lewis spent 21 years in the Department of Health Sciences at James Madison University, where she taught epidemiology and health statistics. During her tenure there, she served as program director for the health studies concentration for seven years and worked extensively as a first-year advisor for 15 years, supporting a department of approximately 1,300 to 1,500 students.
A Virginia native from Prince George County, Lewis earned her undergraduate degree in biology from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) before completing her Master of Public Health at the Medical College of Virginia, now part of VCU. She later received her doctorate in research and evaluation from VCU's College of Education, working full time while pursuing both graduate degrees.
Following graduate school, she worked for the Virginia Department of Health's Division of Immunizations and later served as a district epidemiologist at the Crater Health District in Petersburg.
Lewis and her husband, Mike, senior director of AI architecture working remotely for a California-based company, have moved from Staunton to the Blacksburg area. Her parents still live in Prince George County, where she grew up.
While Lewis hasn’t been associated with a veterinary college until taking the role at Virginia Tech, she is well versed on the needs of her 14-year-old, 6½-pound toy poodle Molly, who Lewis describes as “very active” for her age.
