(Left) The Canadian Women’s Eight rowing team, with Parker Illingworth in the fourth seat; (right) Parker Illingworth carrying the boat. (Photo credit: Beth Whitehead)
Meet Parker Illingworth, a Master of Public Health (MPH) student at UBC’s School of Population and Public Health (SPPH) who’s not only navigating the complexities of graduate studies, but also representing Canada on the world stage at the 2025 World Rowing Championships in Shanghai, China from September 21-28. From her early days on the water in Seattle to championship wins with the Texas Longhorns and a bronze medal at the U23 World Championships, Parker’s journey has been one of resilience and curiosity, both in sport and in the classroom.
In this Q&A, Parker shares what inspired her to pursue public health, how teamwork translates from the boat to the classroom, and what it means to wear the maple leaf on the international stage.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hi I’m Parker! I’m going into my second year of the MPH program and currently competing with the Canadian national team at the World Rowing Championship. My dad is from Canada but I grew up in Seattle and did my undergrad at Texas where I rowed with the Longhorns. I have two amazing sisters that also share in my love for sports and they inspire me everyday. Outside of rowing and school, I spend my time cooking extravagant meals, skiing at Whistler, and reading sci-fi books.
What inspired you to pursue a Master of Public Health at SPPH?
I first became interested in public health after taking a Sociology of Health class at UT. Pursuing public health would allow me to keep learning about a wide range of issues that impact people’s lives and I appreciated the freedom to explore. My sociology degree focused on critical thinking skills, but I wanted to apply those skills in a way that could drive real-world change, particularly through policy. The SPPH program stood out because the topics covered were broad and relevant while offering the opportunity to learn from some of the leading professors in Canada.
How do you see your academic background in public health influencing your future career, whether in sports or beyond?
My background in sociology and public health has influenced me in pursuing a practicum and will continue to in the rest of my career. When it comes to sports, I find myself considering the environmental and social factors that influence our performance, and I hope I can work to address these for the national team (especially the algae blooms on the lake—gross).
What skills from the MPH program do you find most transferable to your training or competitive mindset?
I find that working in group projects is similar to training a team boat. We all have roles to play to bring out the best from each other and ourselves. When it comes to classwork, I really appreciate the patience and kindness that our program brings as we help each other learn along the way, just as we do when we are building a crew.
Can you tell us about your journey to becoming a member of Team Canada’s rowing team?
I started rowing when I was twelve and instantly loved being on the water, the people, and the magic of moving a boat. My mom had rowed at the University of Washington and I decided to pursue rowing in university as well. In my first two years at UT, we won back-to-back National Championships and then in my third year I got long-term COVID. I fought to keep up with rowing and classes but I didn’t get selected to compete with Texas that year. Instead I crossed the border and joined the Under-23 Canadian team and we won a bronze medal at Worlds. I raced at the Pan American Games next and finished my degree at Texas with another championship win. At UBC, I continued to row and got selected to the World Champs team this summer.
What does it mean to you to represent Canada at the 2025 World Rowing Championships in Shanghai?
This is an amazing opportunity to show all the hard work we have put in to be here. While I’ve been a part of many teams, I’m especially proud of how we have driven this project through the past two months with grit, accountability, and an excellent coaching staff. I’m so incredibly grateful to everyone who helped me get here and I can’t wait to represent my family, UBC, and Canada at this race.
How do you balance the intense demands of being a high-performance athlete with the rigors of graduate studies?
I don’t sleep! Just kidding. I learned a lot of discipline in high school and at Texas when it came to balancing school and rowing. Managing graduate school has been a new challenge as we must be engaged in every class for long periods of time and coordinate the many group projects assigned in SPPH. This summer was particularly intense as I managed my summer practicum, class, coaching, and training. I’m extremely grateful that my practicum supervisors were open to working with me as my training load increased.
What advice would you give to other students juggling life demands and academics?
I would encourage students to focus on what’s in front of them. If I spend a row thinking about the homework I have to do later, then the row isn’t benefiting me anymore. It comes down to what we have control of at the moment. I’ve also learned that reaching out for help is challenging, but people want to help you succeed, so ask!!
What motivates you, both in the classroom and on the water?
I’m motivated by improvement. When I’m on the water, I’m constantly thinking about what I can do to row better and in the classroom, I’m striving to learn more and develop skills to help me throughout my career. I also just have fun; I love to be on the water or learning from my peers and professors in class.
What’s next for you after the World Championships and after graduation from SPPH?
I’m on the road to the LA Olympics! I’m moving to the National team training centre and continuing to improve a bit every day. I hope to find a public health career opportunity I can pursue in tandem with training.