If you’ve been wondering how you can make a difference in the world, you aren’t alone, and K-State Olathe provides a variety of ways you can get involved and make a difference on both a local and a global scale.
Whether you’re looking for a one-day event where you can learn about healthy living or you’re hoping to pursue a degree that enables you to get directly involved in your community, we’ve got something for everyone.
Here’s what you need to know.
One Health Day
Students throughout the state are gathering this fall to participate in Kansas City One Health Day. This event occurs each year and is designed to provide a space where collaboration and innovation can take place.
This year’s One Health Day topic is food as medicine, which coincides with K-State Olathe’s strategic imperative to support food as medicine in the Kansas City Metro. Learners will gather to share ideas, including student poster presentations. Attendees will also share lunch and have the opportunity to enjoy a presentation on food as medicine.
Urban Food Systems
Learners who want to make a difference in food availability should consider studying urban food systems at K-State Olathe.
“Anyone who has a bachelor’s degree and an interest to learn more about urban food systems is welcome to join our program,” said Eleni Pliakoni, Ph.D., professor of urban food production and postharvest handling. “We are proud of the fact that many of our students do not have a background in horticulture and enjoy the learning environment that this diversity provides. Because this area is so multi-disciplinary, someone who studies sociology may want to learn more about urban food systems. Similarly, someone who works in public health could have a desire to learn more.”
Pliakoni is a professor in urban food production and postharvest handling in the department of horticulture and natural resources at Kansas State University and was named this year’s Remarkable Woman of Kansas City by Fox4 KC. Pliakoni works to support students who want to study horticulture and address issues of insecurity and food deserts. To learn more about UFS at K-State Olathe and Pliakoni’s research, visit our Q and A.
Master of Public Health
K-State offers a variety of programs designed to support students who want to focus on making a difference in the world around them.
One such program is the Master of Public Health (MPH) program. This program is designed to support students by providing them with knowledge and training in epidemiology, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, health service administration and social and behavioral sciences.
Students can study public health at either Olathe or Manhattan and will walk away with a stronger understanding of what it takes to make a difference in their world. To read about one student’s experience with MPH, visit our Q and A with Temitope Sufianu.
These programs are supported with funding provided by the Johnson County Education Research Triangle.
