Many journeys begin with unexpected turns, and for Jameson Roth ’17, the path through the University of Maryland School of Public Health (SPH) started with a detour. Initially aspiring to be a psychology major, Roth lacked the required math credits. Fate intervened when she stumbled upon a family science class taught by the captivating Dr. John Hart, MS ’12, Ph.D. ’17. This transformative experience ignited a passion for family science and redirected her career goals. As a communication and family science double degree student, she combined these interests in her future career.
Roth attributes her experiences at the University of Maryland with shaping her into a resilient, independent professional. These qualities continue to serve Roth well in her role as a senior account manager at McCabe Message Partners, where she tackles pressing health and healthcare communications projects related to aging and older adults.
As an engaged alumna, Roth remains deeply connected to SPH. She serves as president of the SPH Alumni Network (2022-2024), providing guidance to the next generation of public health professionals. With a thriving career and a passion for giving back, her journey continues to inspire and uplift the entire university community.
How did you start your journey through SPH?
My journey did not start as I expected. I was originally a communication major and was still figuring out where I should go with that. I wanted to add a psychology major, but I did not have the proper math credits to do so. I turned to family science in SPH. I took the family science class “Poverty, Affluence and Families (FMSC381)” and was inspired by Professor John Hart's lecture style. FMSC381 became my favorite class, and I feel that all students should be required to take this class. Due to the great experience I had in the course, I worked hard to become Dr. Hart’s teaching and research assistant. Family science helped set me on the course of my current role in healthcare communications.
How did your education prepare you for life after graduation?
I believe UMD prepared me for the real world because my professors did not do much hand-holding. Knowing that it was up to me to prepare myself for my future and make the connections I needed propelled me to become more organized, disciplined and responsible. I am grateful for my UMD SPH education.
How do you stay involved with the school as an alum?
I started by getting involved with the SPH Alumni Network Mentorship program. I enjoyed mentoring students and continuing to give back to the UMD community, which enabled my own growth. I became vice president of the SPH Alumni Network (2020-2022) and later transitioned to president (2022-2024).
Tell us about your job and day-to-day duties.
I worked at Discovery, Inc. for one year and then worked for McCabe Message Partners from 2018-2020. I later rejoined their team in 2022 and am now currently working for them as a senior account manager. At McCabe Message Partners, I work on communications projects related to aging issues and clinical trial recruitment in the Alzheimer’s disease space. I work on about four to six projects at any given time and must stay organized. I spend a lot of time on the phone, reaching out to vendors, working on media pitching, event planning, messaging and other communications tasks.
How did you become interested in your line of work?
I really enjoy the variety of the communications work that I do. The pace of work at an agency is different than at a corporation. My work has to be very organized, so I have to take notes describing every 15-minute period. What’s incredibly cool about the work I do is the way it can be measured. When my team pitches a media outlet and secures an interview, we can often see how many people read the story and seek to learn more about the organization by tracking clicks and other metrics. Our work has a real impact.
What do you like most about your job?
It's a privilege to love what you do. I’m privileged in that I’m able to work in a role where I can see the difference my and my colleagues’ work makes in terms of communicating about health and healthcare. We can see in real-time with digital metrics tracking who we are reaching with what messaging across which platforms.
How did your degree prepare you for this position?
I believe what prepared me the most was the encouragement to develop a fundamental sense of curiosity. These fields of study are continuously changing. I wouldn’t have gotten very far if I did not continue to learn about what I was interested in past graduation. UMD does a good job of getting students to nurture their own sense of curiosity and learn about things that interest them in and out of the classroom.
What advice would you give to public health students today?
Public health is not a one-size-fits-all field. I have not pursued an advanced degree and was never good at math, but I did find courses in communication and family science in order to create my own version of success. Your route does not have to be traditional. Lastly, it is easier to choose your path if you envision who you want to be rather than what you want to do. You can work backward when you clearly see what that version of you values and where you tend to dedicate your time and energy.