My Narrative

I love to explore the outdoors through activities such as biking, skiing and running. Photography, gardening and cooking are also favorite hobbies. I enjoy spending time in Minneapolis (MN) and holidays in British Columbia (Canada) and Colorado (USA) with family and friends. 

I am active in local community service organizations and athletics in Minneapolis. For five years I assisted in the planning and implementation of public health outreach and engagement programs for older adults with Neighborhood Health Source. This included regular visits to senior communities to record blood pressures, discuss fitness and nutrition, and assist with senior citizen low-impact fitness classes.

I was a member of the University of Minnesota's Triathlon Team where I competed at inter-collegiate races both locally in the Midwest and nationally, including the USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships. I served as Vice President and President of the team, and was elected Commissioner of the Midwest Collegiate Triathlon Conference for 2013-2015. I train and compete with the Mill City Running Race Team located in Northeast Minneapolis, and have served as female team captain.
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Galiano Island, British Columbia
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Sierra Nevada, Spain

Community Service and Leadership 

  • 2018-Present: Social Environment and Health Seminar Coordinator, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan
  • 2016-Present: Journal Reviewer: Ageing & Society, Aging and Mental Health, Annals of the Association of American Geographers;  Area, Field Methods, Geography Compass, Health & Place, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Journal of Applied Gerontology, PLOS ONE, The Gerontologist, Urban Geographer, Social and Cultural Geography, Sustainability
  • 2016-Present: Gerontological Society of America, Environmental Gerontology Specialty Interest Group Co-Convener
  • 2015-2017: UMN Department of Geography, Environment & Society Strategic Planning Committee Member
  • 2015-2016: Association of American Geographers [AAG] Health and Medical Geography Specialty Group Peter Gould Student Paper Award Chair
  • 2015-2017: AAG Health and Medical Geography Specialty Group Elected Graduate Student Representative
  • 2015-2018: UMN Interdisciplinary Aging Studies Graduate Group Executive Member
  • 2015-Present: AAG Task Force on Mental Health in Geography Board Member
  • 2014-2018: Mill City Running Race Team Athlete; 2016 & 2017 Female Captain ​
  • 2014-2016: AAG Disability Geography Specialty Group Officer
  • 2014-2015: AAG Disability Geography Todd Reynolds Student Paper Award Chair
  • 2014-2016: UMN Department of Geography, Environment & Society Health Geography Multi-Position Hiring Committee Graduate Student Representative
  • 2013-2015: UMN Department of Geography, Environment & Society Graduate Education Policy Committee Graduate Student Representative
  • 2013-2015: Midwest Collegiate Triathlon Conference Commissioner
  • 2012-2015: UMN Triathlon Team President, Vice President, and Member
  • 2011-2015: Neighborhood Health Source Community Volunteer
  • 2011-2014: UMN Department of Geography, Environment & Society Graduate Student Representative
  • 2008-2011: Queen’s University Varsity Athlete (Nordic Skiing, Triathlon and Water Polo)
  • 2006-2011: Queen’s University Rotaract Club Executive Member, Vice President and President
  • 2006-2010: Queen’s University Peer Notetaker for Students with Disabilities 
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Boulder, Colorado
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Hanover, New Hampshire
Any questions? Please contact Jessica Finlay at jmfinlay@umich.edu