Shining Faculty of Health Sciences graduate — Jason Funkhouser

Jason Funkhouser (BHSc '24) is committed to community-driven advocacy. He tackles problems using logical, data-driven approaches. He's passionate about health promotion and has turned personal adversity into a driving force for change.

Meet Jason: Ambitious. Queer. Unapologetic.
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
Program: Bachelor of Health Sciences | Public Health

What is your most memorable ULethbridge experience?

Working alongside my hard-working colleagues in student groups, non-profits and social justice spaces to advocate for a more equitable campus.

Have you participated in experiential or work-integrated learning?

I participated in an applied studies course in public health with Food For Thought, an on-campus organization working to combat student food insecurity at the University of Lethbridge. I co-coordinated free fresh grocery pick-ups and other events for students to access free meals. I also developed two comprehensive workshops offering students public health tools and community organizing concepts to better understand the socio-ecological factors that subject post-secondary students to food insecurity, and how to mobilize student bodies to achieve hunger-free campuses. This experience offered me hands-on work in health promotion, knowledge translation, and advocating around public health issues.

What is the most important lesson you learned during your time at ULethbridge?

The most important lesson was understanding how individual behaviours often have a low ceiling in predicting negative health outcomes, and in improving the health of Albertans, we need to address the pervasive issues of access to housing, education, health care, and basic income.

Is there someone specific who had an important influence on your ULethbridge experience?

I would like to thank two incredible student groups I had the pleasure of working alongside — the Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group (LPIRG) and the Campus Collective Centre (CCC). The students who operate these groups look out for the most vulnerable folks on campus when others fail to, while providing inclusive and judgement-free spaces.

What have you gained from the liberal education experience at ULethbridge?

My liberal education taught me not only to pursue knowledge and truth but to do so through a framework of empathetic practice. It has strengthened my ability to actively engage with diverse communities and address complex health inequities using holistic, inclusive approaches.

What are your hopes/plans for the future? What's next?

As the new Gay Men’s Health Specialist at the Centre for Sexuality in Calgary, I want to create lasting change in sexual health equity. I hope to continue advocating for the health and well-being of queer men through education, research, and community empowerment.

Looking ahead, I plan to pursue a master’s in epidemiology to develop the skills and knowledge needed to drive meaningful change in the 2SLGBTQ+ community. No matter what path I take, I’m grounded by my commitment to lifelong learning and my vision for healthy sexuality for all.

What advice would you like to give those who are about to begin their journey at ULethbridge?

There are fresh food and grocery pick-ups provided on campus by LPIRG, and free condoms and other sexual health tools provided by CCC. These resources are for you. Use them!

What do you like to do in your spare time?

In the summers I’m often tenting in the forest with friends, hiking the Rockies, or on a restaurant patio with good company. In the winter, I play in a hockey league and love to snowboard!