Dr. Jennifer Beard

Biography

Jennifer Beard is a Clinical Associate Professor at Boston University School of Public Health, where she specializes in Global Health. She holds a BA in English Literature from Youngstown State University, an MA from Ohio University focused on Victorian literature, and a PhD from the University of New Hampshire with research on twentieth-century British women writers. With a rich background in public health, her teaching and research interests blend a passion for literature—particularly the works of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and the Brontë sisters—with a commitment to advancing global health initiatives. Jennifer is the author of 'Teaching Public Health Writing' (Oxford University Press, 2022) and has co-founded the BU Program in Global Health Storytelling, which fosters collaboration between BU's schools and the Pulitzer Center. Additionally, she co-directs the Boston University Medical Campus Narrative Writing Program, providing an avenue for faculty and researchers to harness narrative as a tool for engagement and understanding in public health. Her work includes qualitative research projects in Ghana focusing on key populations at risk for HIV, where findings have led to improved harm reduction policies. Jennifer's scholarship emphasizes the crossroads of population health, arts, and journalism, developing innovative courses that integrate creative writing into global health contexts.

Research Interests

Experience