2025 Robert M. Duncan Alumni Citizenship Award
Misti Allison ’11 MPH
When toxic chemicals from a train derailment threatened her Ohio hometown, this public health expert transformed from marketing manager to the "Erin Brockovich of East Palestine."
For Misti Allison ‘11 MPH, a life-changing journey began with two questions from her young son — turning her into an environmental health advocate for her community, and others affected by disaster.
Allison was living a peaceful life in East Palestine, Ohio, until Feb. 3, 2023, when a Norfolk Southern train carrying hazardous chemicals derailed a mile from her home. She watched in terror as train cars caught fire, spewing toxic chemicals into the air, and nearby creeks that flow into the Ohio River.
Just days after the derailment, emergency crews conducted a vent and burn of five tank cars containing 129,000 gallons of vinyl chloride — a highly toxic chemical that can cause cancer, liver damage, and respiratory problems.
“Misti Allison has a deep commitment to her community, its people, and their health. She is a tremendous advocate for East Palestine and is a valuable member of our research team.”
“My son asked me if he was going to die from living in our home,” Allison says. “Another time, he asked if there was vinyl chloride in the puddle he’d just jumped in. He looked so panicked, and I knew I had to step up in this horrific situation.”
Making that impact wouldn’t be easy. Allison was balancing her roles as a software product marketing manager, mom of two, and a library board member. Still, her master’s in public health from Ohio State, and experience as a market researcher at Cleveland Clinic gave her the tools to advocate effectively.
“I committed to educating myself about these toxic chemicals, sharing that information, and helping others,” Allison says. “I wanted East Palestine to get the support it needed to recover and thrive, and to ensure no other community faces a disaster like this.”
Allison chairs the East Palestine Train Derailment Health Tracking Study Community Advisory Board at the University of Kentucky, assisting with research including a long-term health survey, indoor air sampling, biological testing, and community report-back. In 2024, she was appointed to the Columbiana County General Health District Board of Health, further extending her impact on public health.
She has taken her advocacy to the national stage, testifying before Congress twice, and collaborating with federal and state agencies, the National Transportation Safety Board, and nonprofits like Moms Clean Air Force to champion safer railways, improved disaster response, and long-term health monitoring. Her work has drawn national media attention, earning her the nickname the “Erin Brockovich of East Palestine” from Politico.
Allison never sought the spotlight but embraces it to help her community, and she encourages others to get involved in causes they believe in. “Your community and your conscience will thank you for getting yourself out there, for making a difference and being that change you want to see.”
Presented to alumni who have distinguished themselves in service to humanity and who have best exemplified the university’s motto, “Education for Citizenship,” by having performed significant voluntary service to their community beyond the call of business or professional duty.