Jen G. Walker
Graduate Assistant
Office: 919-843-3079
Fax: 919-843-3083
jgilchri@email.unc.edu
Job Focus
Physical Activity and Health. Assisting in research and other projects, including the Chapel Hill, NC partnership.
Why am I working at Active Living By Design?
It’s fascinating to consider why people do or don’t make physical activity a part of their lives. I was always one of those wimpy kids who no one wanted on their team in gym class, but luckily for me, the cross country coach at my high school convinced me to join the team. Being involved in sports was such a positive experience—physically, mental and socially—that I’ve since always been interested in motivating other people to be physically active. It’s not as easy as you’d think, especially considering all the lip service people give to the benefits of regular exercise. I believe that most people have a hard time prioritizing physical activity in their lives because it is not truly a part of their environment—social or physical. Just as the structure of team sports provided an environment where I learned to integrate physical activity into my life, the structure of our built environment has the potential to make physical activity an automatic part of the daily routine. I’m convinced that our physical and social worlds are inextricably intertwined when it comes to physical activity, and that the Active Living By Design movement has the potential to change our built environment and our culture, in a way that allows us to express the value we place on physical activity by actually doing it!
Bio
Jen graduated from Lawrence University of Wisconsin in 2000 with a B.A. in Psychology and Biomedical Ethics. She then spent a year in Norwalk, CT working for an HR consulting firm, followed by three years in Madison, WI with a small independent medical review consultant to major managed care companies across the country. Looking to work with a greater focus on preventative health, Jen entered the UNC School of Public Health in August 2004, and is currently working towards an MPH in Health Behavior and Health Education.
