Skyler Crouch, a PhD student in the Division of Public Health and part of the team at the Rocky Mountains & High Plains Center for Emergency Health, recently received some exciting news. He's been elected to serve as the Treasurer-Elect for the American Public Health Association (APHA) Student Assembly.
Skyler is a public health PhD student with a focus on incorporating health equity principles into health security. He is currently a PhD student researcher for the ForeSITE Center and the instructor for the Public Health Nutrition course at the University of Utah. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Science from Brigham Young University and a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Utah.
Of his involvement in student leadership, Skyler reflects, “My journey into public health leadership began in March 2020, during my time as a master’s student at the University of Utah. One of my professors, Dr. Sharon Talboys, was the Utah Public Health Association (UPHA) President at the time, and she approached me after class with an invitation to join the UPHA Student Assembly. I knew little about UPHA, but having held leadership roles as an undergrad, I wanted to find similar leadership opportunities, and I accepted. I soon stepped into the role of UPHA Student Assembly President, where I served until I graduated with my MPH in May of 2021.”
Since then, he has served the organization as the chair of the Fiscal Unit, Conference Chair, and as the Board President. In 2025, Skyler was elected to serve on the APHA Student Assembly as the Treasurer-Elect, a two-year national leadership term that begins in November 2025. He commented the following regarding his time in leadership: “My time with UPHA has been more rewarding than I can fully express. I’ve had the privilege of meeting incredible people across Utah and the United States. I’ve honed my leadership style, and I’ve discovered that leading with a ‘people first’ mindset has helped me build stronger relationships and more meaningful collaborations.”
He continued, “While the journey hasn’t always been easy, and I made my fair share of mistakes along the way, I wouldn’t trade the past five years for anything. And I’m excited to continue my involvement with the APHA Student Assembly.”
When asked what advice he would give to public health students, Skyler said, “For students just beginning their public health journey, my number one advice is to get involved. Join UPHA and APHA, serve on your local health committee, be an active member with your degree program and department. It takes time, energy, and commitment, but the opportunities are there, and I’m always happy to help students find them.”
Skyler’s passion for service doesn’t stop when he leaves work and school. In addition to his work at the Center and his studies, Skyler is an LGBTQIA+ subject matter expert for the Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center and is an active member of the Healthy West Jordan Committee. He is an avid gardener and amateur botanist, a classical music fanatic, and an advocate for incorporating native plants into landscapes.
