HHP Alumni Spotlight - Ta-Kisha Jones
Ta-Kisha Jones
Class of ’07
Degree(s): B.S. Health Education and Promotion (Community Health Concentration) and M.B.A with Certification in Health Care Management (Fayetteville State University 2016)
Assistant Director of Health and Wellness Initiatives at Indianapolis University – Purdue University, Jones serves students through peer education and oversees relative campus wide health and wellness initiatives. She is currently the advisor for the Health and Wellness Peer Educator group and Adjunct Professor for IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health. It is with great passion and excitement that she sprinkles wellness jewels of wisdom as she teaches the Peer Health Education and Leadership course that she once participated as a student in at ECU. Jones is also an active certified health and wellness coach through Real Balance, LLC.
The outreach, education and experiences embraced while growing up and at ECU in: Campus ministries, Housing and Resident Life, Peer Education, Leadership and Civic Engagement nurtured the passion within her and served as an ember to the eight year plus journey she’s enjoyed in Health Education and promotion. Some of the greatest rewards have been paying it forward to the youth in her hometown, Goldsboro NC, and working with underserved populations in outreach and prevention home and abroad. It is a part of her mission and passion, working to improve health equality over several systemic levels.
The pirate pride continues to burns inside of Mrs. Jones as over the years she contributed to her alma mater through mentorship, coaching, internships, scholarships, and recruitment. To date Jones has been given the pleasure to coach an ECU alumni, who after coaching, followed up and announced not only getting into nursing school, but also excelling in the program.
Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in science in Health Education and Promotion, with a concentration in Community Health at East Carolina University. She holds a master’s degree in Business Administration with a certification in Health Care Management from Fayetteville State University. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), and a MACHA Board Director for the Mid-America College Health Association (MACHA), as the current President.
Her advice for current and prospective students:
- ““Never judge your destiny based on your present situation alone”
- “ Reach out for help even when you’re unsure of the outcome”
- “Volunteering is job experience and networking, don’t underestimate it – After 3 years of volunteering at a local Health Department (while attending graduate school and maintaining a full time job), they hired me and I was finally able to land a career in my field of study.”
- “Take care of your health and wellness, the future you (and others) will thank you”
“I’m grateful for all of the experiences and friends that I gained while attending ECU, most importantly my best friend and husband William, whom I met my junior year.”
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