Extracurricular Activities
Work- Marketing, Outreach, and Development Coordinator for Citizens for Safe Schools; Volunteering- Volunteer Mentor: Citizens for Safe Schools PRIDE Circle; Extracurricular- Regular theater volunteer at the Ross Ragland Theater and The Linkville Playhouse. I have performed in numerous shows between the two theaters, most recently as the Dentist in the Linkville Playhouse's production of Little Shop of Horrors
A Little Bit About Me
My name is Sarah Walls, and I am a full-time student in OIT's Population Health Management Program. I am also a part-time employee at a local 501c3 nonprofit youth mentoring organization called Citizens for Safe Schools as their Marketing, Outreach, and Development Coordinator. I have an associate degree from KCC in Health Information Management, and I am looking forward to graduating in 2026 with my bachelor's degree in Population Health Management. I am passionate about health equity, resource connection, LGBTQIA+ advocacy, and community building. Outside of work and school, I love performing in theatrical performances at both the Linkville Playhouse and the Ross Ragland Theater, I love to sing, to make art, to bake, and to spend time with my wonderful girlfriend, Emilia.
Why I Chose Oregon Tech and My Major
Having been born and raised in Klamath Falls, I pretty much always knew that I wanted to attend OIT. I just didn't always know for what. When I first came to OIT out of high school in 2019, I went into the Pre-MIT program and was accepted into the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. Population Health was never on my radar until I took a Medical Sociology class, which I found myself connecting with deeply.
My Influential Professors
My most influential professor at Oregon Tech is Dr. Kyle Chapman. Way back in 2019, I took a Medical Sociology class from him that stuck with me more than any of the other classes I'd taken. I didn't start in Population Health Management, but that class was what made me decide to pursue it. Dr. Chapman has taught numerous courses I've taken, is my Academic Advisor, and is one of the heads of the Population Health Management program as a whole, so I interact with him more than any other professor. It is with his support that I have gotten as far as I have.
My Greatest Learning Experience At Oregon Tech
Some of my greatest learning experiences at Oregon Tech have been through the externship opportunities it provided me with. I am a very hands-on learner, and I found immersion in the field to be highly impactful. Oregon Tech helped me set up externships with two different community benefit organizations, including Cascade Health Alliance and Citizens for Safe Schools. I enjoyed and prospered from being able to learn in a classroom setting and then get to apply that knowledge in real-world scenarios.
My Plans After Graduation
I plan to continue working for Citizens for Safe Schools after graduation, as the Executive Director has already informed me that she fully intends to promote me and keep me as a full-time employee upon graduation. I also, however, have a standing job offer from Cascade Health Alliance in their Health Equity team, which is something I am still considering. I wish to stay in town for a few years to build my resume and experience, and to marry my girlfriend, then I want to experiment with living in different places.