Alumna and AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer makes impact through service on the Plains

When Kate Bouchillon signed up to volunteer with AmeriCorps VISTA, she didn't realize her grandmother had served in the program as well.

When Kate Bouchillon signed up to volunteer with AmeriCorps, she didn’t realize that she would forge a deeper connection with her alma mater, communities across Alabama and even her grandmother. 

Bouchillon, who graduated from Auburn’s College of Sciences and Mathematics (COSAM) with a degree in biomedical sciences, has dedicated her time to service here on the Plains as a volunteer with AmeriCorps Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA). 

The summer she started her work, the Decatur, Alabama, native was filling her grandmother in on her new job when the pair pieced together that they were both VISTAs. 

“She started with the program when she had five kids and three grandkids,” she said. “She says she did it because she believes in the purpose. That resonated with me, because there was no way in the world I would have accepted this job if I didn’t believe in the mission and the team they have here.” 

Impacting communities 

As a member of AmeriCorps VISTA, a national program aimed at empowering individuals and communities in overcoming poverty, Bouchillon spent one year focusing on rural community engagement and outreach. 

Partnering with the Rural Health Initiative under University Outreach, she coordinates numerous service and wellness initiatives creating change in rural communities across Alabama, such as the Health Ambassador Program, Rural Health Connect and the Healthy Temple Initiative.  

“In my role, I’ve been given a lot of autonomy,” she said. “This allows me to identify gaps that need to be addressed in the communities I serve and to put a plan into action.” 

Bouchillon hosts events that educate attendees about their health while also bringing people together. 

Bouchillon and other volunteers sort food donations before they are distributed to the public.

Bouchillon and other students partaking in the 2024 Beat Bama Food Drive nearly doubled what they raised in 2023.

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“One event I love to host is bingo night,” she said. “We collaborate with local organizations and pre-medical students to facilitate a game of bingo while teaching attendees important health facts, and I like to lead dance breaks in between rounds to get them moving as well. Fun events like that address the two most important goals of my work — education and community-building.” 

All roads lead to service 

Bouchillon initially came to Auburn as an undergraduate student due to the sense of community she felt. 

“I knew from my visits to campus that I’d feel right at home at Auburn,” she said. “However, I really believe that to find your place, you have to search for it.” 

For Bouchillon, getting involved on campus was the outlet she needed. Having held leadership positions in organizations such as Beat Bama Food Drive and ONE Campaign, she developed a commitment to service early on in her studies. 

Though she always knew her passion was improving health care outcomes, she didn’t settle on public health until later in her undergraduate career. 

“When I started out as a pre-med student, I remember being asked what I wanted to do post-graduation, and I would always say that I wanted to help individuals reach their highest potential of well-being,” Bouchillon said. “I wanted to make sure that health is never a critical detriment to anybody’s life. Over the course of my time at Auburn, I realized that what I was actually looking to do was public health.” 

Bouchillon is now pursuing a master's in public health from Louisiana State University Shreveport, in addition to her work as a VISTA. 

Rooted in research 

As an undergraduate, Bouchillon assisted in numerous research projects with COSAM, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) and the College of Human Sciences' Relationships and Health Lab. 

This foundation has informed her work as a community health mentor. 

“My research background instilled the importance of thoroughly fact-checking yourself before giving advice,” she said. “In rural communities especially, any information you give spreads so quickly, and if it’s false, you’re creating misconceptions about someone’s health journey.” 

Bouchillon credits her undergraduate research and education with preparing her to enter the field of public health. 

Bouchillon graduated from Auburn’s College of Sciences and Mathematics with a degree in biomedical sciences,

“COSAM not only provided me with the knowledge I need to do the work I do but also showed me what kind of leader I need to be,” she said. “Watching so many awesome people within the college and the way they lead gave me something to emulate.” 

Bright future 

Her biggest takeaway from both COSAM and Outreach is the importance of building relationships in the communities she serves. 

“It’s so important to build that foundation of trust,” she said. “Sometimes I will just go into a community and walk around and talk to people. If you can’t build that connection, you’re not going to go anywhere.” 

As her yearlong VISTA appointment comes to a close, Bouchillon has words of encouragement for students interested in applying. 

“I’ve learned so much and I really feel like my work has made a tangible impact,” she said. “It’s been awesome to build programs that create change in communities, and I hope they can be sustained beyond my time. I’m excited to pass the torch on to the next person who’s ready to make a difference.”