Women's and Gender Studies

Bailey Murph

Senior Public Health Strategist Lead
UWO ’11 Sociology, Women’s and Gender Studies major

What do you do during a typical day at work?
As a Public Health Strategist, my work varies each day. I am often out in the community working with community partners to plan and implement public health programming. A large part of my job is to educate the public about important topics. I oversee coalitions and committees focused on mental health and sexual health and represent the health department in many capacities.

Why did you choose UWO?
I chose UWO because I felt like it was a good fit. Oshkosh is about the size of my hometown and the campus felt like a place that I could thrive as a student. I was overwhelmed at the idea of being on a large campus and UWO gave me a sense of closeness and security. I didn’t feel like I would get lost in the crowd.

How has Women’s and Gender Studies influenced your career path?
Women’s and Gender Studies really helped launch my career in the social sciences. Toward the end of my undergrad, I took a job at Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services where I served as a Shelter Advocate. This role allowed me to work with women and children who had been impacted by domestic abuse. My studies and understanding of women’s and gender issues helped me to navigate the complexity of gender in the everyday world and better understand how to advocate for the rights of the women I saw each day.

Today, I am in a role where I continue to use my studies to understand how gender is intertwined with mental health and sexual health. My ability to use this lens, helps me to make decisions that promote equity and fairness in systems that have historically been harmful to women and other marginalized groups.

Do you have any advice you’d like to share with current students?
Use your time in college to dive deep into the Women’s and Gender Studies program. It can seem like a lot, but take time to read the books, discuss and understand the history. This program will stick with you and help you to think critically and make informed decisions about issues in your personal and professional life moving forward.