Her Story
About Tracie
Tracie Gillespie brings more than two decades of dedication to public health community education. She completed an undergraduate triple major in fitness, nutrition, and health before pursuing graduate studies in public health, drawn to the broader impact the field offers across multiple areas of influence. Throughout her career at UMass Amherst Extension, Gillespie has worked under the SNAP Education Grant and participated in the associated ASMET organization. She credits her achievements to a willingness to work hard while remaining true to herself and allowing her team to see her authentic, human side. Gillespie values excellence in every role, inspired by the principle that whatever one is, one should be a good one, as each contribution matters within one's community. She encourages young women entering the industry to remain open to opportunities across state, community, policy, advocacy, and management pathways.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tracie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think I've been successful because I'm willing to work hard but I'm also have been true to who I am. I've stayed true to myself. I'm human at the end of the day, I make mistakes, we're all a little quirky. And I let my team see that. And I think they have appreciated that.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be open to opportunities that present themselves. There's so many different pathways that you can go with public health. And to not be afraid to kind of dip your toes in, in different categories of public health. You know, there's working at the state level, or there's community level, there's policy, there's advocacy, there's management.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I love the quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, whatever you are, be a good one. Wherever you find your role, to do it, and excel at it, and it will matter at the end of the day. It matters to whoever it is you're coming in contact in your little village.
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