Welcome to The Vector Newsletter: Admitted Student Edition!

This newsletter is sent to students who have been admitted to the University of Michigan School of Public Health. We know that there is a lot to think about as you consider graduate school. You can expect to receive The Vector every other Tuesday now through April, and we hope it will serve as a one-stop shop for helpful resources, important dates, and reminders. Our admitted student webpage is another great resource for you!

This newsletter is composed by Michigan Public Health’s Office for Student Engagement and Practice (OSEP). You may have interacted with the OSEP Recruitment and Admissions team as a prospective student. OSEP also manages many current student support services including student life, career development, and academic support.

Get to know the University of Michigan School of Public Health and your admitting department better through our Admitted Graduate Student Experience! Please register below to indicate which events you plan to attend.

Welcome from a Current Student

Hello! My name is Sydney and I’m a first-year MHSA student, originally from Bettendorf, Iowa. I would love to share a little bit about my experience as a graduate student here in Michigan!!!

My favorite thing about my program is the cohort. Coming from a different state, I was nervous about making connections and navigating my way around Ann Arbor. However, the Health Management and Policy (HMP) department set up orientation week socials, such as a picnic and happy hours and I instantly made some of my best friends. All of the members in my cohort are kind, empathetic, and warm people. They truly push me to be the best leader I can be, and I can learn from their diverse perspectives and backgrounds. Additionally, my cohort plans social activities almost weekly. Whether it is bowling, Friendsgiving, trips up north, cheering on the Wolverines, or enjoying cider mills, my cohort always is enjoying everything Michigan has to offer. 

The opportunities at the University of Michigan are endless. I had the opportunity to compete in a case competition at UCLA Health this semester. We were tasked with solving UCLA’s health staffing shortages and presented our solution in front of C-suite executives. At the competition, we networked with students from programs all around the country. My team ended up placing first and the other Michigan team placed second! This was an amazing opportunity to practice what we were learning in the classroom and allowed me to connect with alumni who are on the other side of the country.

If you are looking for endless opportunities and a diverse set of friendly classmates, Michigan will be the perfect fit for you! Feel free to contact me or one of the other Admissions Ambassador with any questions. 

Go Blue! 

Sydney Prochaska (she/her)

We Are Michigan Public Health

Get to know the students, faculty, staff, and alumni in our community.

All of our academic departments and programs have Program Coordinators whose doors (or Zoom rooms) are always open to answer questions and guide students through scheduling the right courses, finding tutors for challenging classes, navigating internships and career preparation, and more. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Program Coordinator in your admitting department.

Biostatistics

Nicole Fenech

[email protected]

Environmental Health Sciences

Rachel Yarbrough

[email protected]

Epidemiology

Nancy Francis

[email protected]

Health Behavior and Health Education

Jackie Cormany

[email protected]

Health Management and Policy (MS, MPH, and MHSA)

Charlita Daniels

[email protected]

Health Management and Policy (PhD and Executive Master’s MHSA)

Kaitlyn Taylor

[email protected]

Nutritional Sciences

Carole Durgy

[email protected]

Population and Health Sciences

Lisa Garber

[email protected]

Getting to Know Ann Arbor

Housing in Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor offers many housing options both on and off campus in a variety of price ranges and locations. Housing openings occur year-round, but many openings occur April through August in alignment with the academic calendar. Here are some resources to help you get started:

• The Munger Graduate Residences is a large facility on Central Campus designed specifically for the life/study-style of graduate and professional-level students.
• The Northwood neighborhood is a common place for incoming graduate students with families. Within this community, you will also find a large multicultural and international population of graduate students, postdoctoral research fellows, visiting scholars, faculty, and staff members.
• University of Michigan on-campus housing website
• University of Michigan off-campus housing website
• Information on additional living options for students who have disabilities or chronic health conditions, or may prefer housing that requires specific consideration for religious observances, gender inclusivity, or substance-free environments.

Navigating Ann Arbor

One of the benefits of living in Ann Arbor is that there are so many options for transportation. Whether you want to fly, drive, ride, or walk, you will have choices. The university’s 13 bus routes are free to the general public and operate daily in and around campus. Ann Arbor city buses—known as The Ride—provide local public transit for the greater Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area, and are free for students with your student ID. Ann Arbor is a bike-friendly city with more than 90 miles of bike lanes. You can also get around town using ride sharing services like Lyft and Uber, and electric Spin scooters. Students also enjoy a Zipcar discount.

From the Classroom to the Field: Public Health Practice

Experience outside the classroom is as important as learning inside the classroom. It provides you the opportunity to apply your newly acquired knowledge to problems and tasks you might encounter as a professional in public health, as well as the skills needed to build meaningful, collaborative relationships with communities you serve. 

At the University of Michigan School of Public Health, we know how important this is, especially as we prepare tomorrow’s leaders in a variety of public health careers. Our Office of Public Health Practice offers a wide variety of resources and opportunities to build vital skills and develop as a professional. 

Public Health Practice provides practice opportunities for Michigan Public Health students in partnership with public health practitioners in governmental and community-based organizations in Michigan and beyond. Read more below to find out how you can get involved once you start at Michigan Public Health this fall!

Resources at Michigan Public Health

Preparing Students for a Career in Public Health: Michigan Public Health Careers Office

At the University of Michigan School of Public Health, we are focused on helping our students envision a better future. We collaborate with our students to ensure they pursue the knowledge, skills, and experiences they will need to build that better future for communities around the world. Our Careers Office is here to support students with advising appointments, a robust job and internship portal, career fairs, workshops, and more

Student Success Coach Beth Cable is here to help all students navigate their studies and make the most of their time at Michigan Public Health. Beth offers one-on-one coaching to help students:

• Improve academic skills like time management, study skills, and self-advocacy
• Connect to programs, communities, and events
• Find campus resources like well-being opportunities, academic support, and financial aid

Michigan Public Health News

We're Here to Help

We hope you have found this information to be helpful. If you have questions, our Recruitment and Admissions team can be reached at [email protected] at any time to help you navigate the steps to pursue a degree from Michigan Public Health.

In addition, the Program Coordinator from your admitting department/program is also here to support you throughout the process.

Did you miss a previous issue of The Vector: Admitted Student Edition? No problem! Catch up on the previous version below.

• Issue 1
• Issue 2