URBANA, Ill. (Chambana Today) — After more than 30 years at the center of Champaign County’s public health response, Julie Pryde is preparing to step away from a career marked by collaboration and an unwavering commitment to science. From her early work during the AIDS epidemic to guiding the community through COVID-19, Pryde’s tenure as administrator of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District has reshaped how public health connects with the people it serves — and leaves behind both a record of progress and unresolved challenges she hopes others will continue to confront.

A career rooted in service

Julie Pryde first became involved with local public health in 1988, shortly after arriving at the University of Illinois. At the time, she had been working as an advertising artist before being drawn to public health work related to HIV and AIDS.

“I came here in 1988 to work with people who had AIDS, and they sent me to public health,” Pryde said. “From then on, I’ve basically always been associated with public health in some way — either volunteering or working there.”

She joined the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District full time in 1995 and eventually became administrator, leading the agency through decades of change and challenge.

Building community connections

When asked what she is most proud of during her tenure, Pryde pointed not to a single program, but to relationships built over time.

“What I think I’m most proud of is how far the agency has come in terms of community connections,” she said. “When I first started, I would show up at meetings and people had no idea what public health was or what we did.”

Pryde said increasing public understanding of public health’s role was intentional — and essential. “You can’t wait until a crisis hits to build relationships,” she said. “We saw the payoff during COVID. You can’t start trying to connect when everything is already on fire.”

Lessons from crisis and COVID

Pryde became a familiar face during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period she described as both exhausting and eye-opening.

“What people thought was changing minds or not knowing what we were doing was actually research playing out in real time,” she said. “We didn’t know everything about the virus, and guidance had to change as we learned more.”

She expressed concern about the erosion of trust in public institutions and science. “We now have people actively undermining confidence in science,” Pryde said. “That will kill people — and we’re already seeing it.”

Ongoing frustrations: Housing and homelessness

Despite many successes, Pryde said some issues still weigh heavily on her — particularly affordable housing and homelessness.

“Housing is the thing that really eats at me,” she said. “Food access has improved dramatically, but housing requires structural change — legislation, ordinances and hard policy decisions.”

She said she plans to continue working on housing issues from outside the public health system. “I’ll be working on that fight from the sidelines,” Pryde said. “It’s not something I can walk away from.”

Vaccines, misinformation, and public trust

Pryde said vaccine misinformation is among her greatest concerns moving forward.

“People have been living in a fantasy land because herd immunity protected them,” she said. “When that’s gone, people are going to be shocked by the consequences.”

She urged residents to seek credible information and share it with others. “During COVID, some of the most helpful people were what I called ‘super-spreaders of correct information,’” Pryde said. “That mattered.”

Praising the people behind the work

Pryde emphasized that the accomplishments of the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District belong to its staff.

“I could not be prouder of every single person I worked with,” she said. “We’ve been through fun times, rough times and scary times, but we stayed focused on the mission and values.”

She credited longtime colleagues for helping guide the agency through periods of growth and crisis alike.

Looking ahead to what’s next

As she prepares to step away, Pryde said her emotions are mixed — sadness, excitement, and relief all at once.

“This has been my life for 30 years,” she said. “I’m excited to do something different and to let someone younger, with new energy and a new perspective, take over.”

Still, she doesn’t plan to slow down entirely. Pryde hopes to volunteer with community organizations and stay engaged with public health issues.  “I’m always going to be a public health supporter,” she said.

When asked how she imagines her final day, Pryde smiled. “I always picture myself leaving the building in one of my inflatable costumes, prancing down Neil Street,” she said. “That’s how I want to remember it.”