Marie Hershberger is Igorot from the tribe of Kalinga in the northern Cordillera mountain range of the Philippines and was raised in Burien, Washington. She completed her coursework from Western Washington University in Spring 2022, with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health and a minor in Spanish. Marie is interested in pursuing health education among marginalized communities as well as addressing and minimizing health disparities within these groups.
She plans to use the skills she gains at Urban Indian Health Institute (UIHI) to work with BIPOC populations through health promotion and creating culturally relevant materials via education. During Marie’s time at UIHI, she would like to become more competent in Native American and Alaska Native practices and culture in order to view public health, and her career, outside of a Western lens. She also hopes to learn more about the importance of data sovereignty within these groups.
Utilizing her indigenous values, Marie would like to pursue a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) certification as well as a Master of Public Health with a concentration on wellness promotion.
In her free time, Marie enjoys being with her friends, listening to music, and spending time in places warmer than Seattle!