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Welcoming the Class of 2024

Congratulations to the Class of 2024 for their many achievements and unwavering dedication to the field of public health! We were excited to officially wrap up a packed and positive semester with a beautiful graduation ceremony. Graduation day was filled with smiles as we celebrated the accomplishments of over 400 graduates, comprising 286 master’s degrees, 100 undergraduate degrees, and 28 doctoral degrees, all within the iconic setting of the Hill Auditorium. Jodi-Ann Burey, MPH ’14, delivered a powerful address, while Dean F. DuBois Bowman shared his hopes for the future and expressed full confidence in our graduates' capacity to drive positive change.

Tai Yang, MS ‘24, eloquently echoed this sentiment by offering a student perspective, emphasizing our collective vision of a world where health is accessible and equitable for all. As our graduates begin their individual journeys, equipped with knowledge, passion, and a steadfast commitment to public health, we stand united in our mission to forge a brighter, healthier future for generations to come.

School of Public Health Celebrates 400 graduates

Lending Her Voice to Promote Health Equity: 'You Are Always Doing Public Health'

Watch the Graduation Day Recap

Welcome to the Spring Edition of The Standard!

We couldn't have asked for a more picturesque day to welcome our newest alumni at graduation. The ceremony was a beautiful celebration of the accomplishments of the Class of 2024, highlighting their achievements and looking ahead to the impact they'll make in the future.

As the year comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the incredible engagement and generosity we've witnessed from our alumni and donors throughout the semester. Beyond celebrating our graduates, we continue to have much to celebrate when it comes to the collective strength of the public health community in shaping our school.

This semester, we had the pleasure of connecting with alumni across the United States, including in locations such as Baltimore, Salt Lake, and Chicago. We were also honored to host prominent voices in public health both virtually and locally, including Bakari Sellers for another enlightening "Ahead of the Curve" conversation, and Brandon Wolf for the second installment of "The Exchange." These engagements have underscored our commitment to creating a healthier, more equitable world for all.

The generosity of our alumni was truly remarkable this semester as well, particularly on Giving Blueday, where we collectively raised over $65k from more than 100 donors. Your gifts ensure that students have access to an SPH education, and faculty have the resources they need to advance cutting-edge research.

The impact of giving was also felt tremendously as we were able to gather once again in person at the University of Michigan Museum of Art for our 2024 Scholarship and Awards Dinner in April. Thank you to the generous donors who supported over 250 Michigan Public Health students in their pursuit of a healthier, more equitable world. The event was a highlight, featuring remarks from Provost McCauley and Dean Bowman.

As we turn our attention towards summer, we look forward to staying connected. Join us in the Official Alumni LinkedIn group, on Michigan Public Health Connect, or send us a note to sph.alumni@umich.edu.

Thank you for all that each of you do to enrich our community!

Go Blue!

Tony Wagener  

Chief Development Officer

Meet Our Graduates

As we celebrate the impact of our graduates, take a moment to meet many of them below and discover the remarkable contributions they are making in the field of public health.

Kate O'Brien

MPH '24

‘Ready to do her part’ in shaping a future with environmental health policy

Soumik Purkayastha

MS '21, PhD '24

Finding inspiration at the intersection of public health and data science

Andrea Kennedy

BS '24

Public health chooses undergraduate student as a means of change

Wadad Itani

MPH '24

Beirut tragedy inspires graduate's public health mission

Jonathan Amos

 MPH '24

COVID-19 experience influences career in health policy and equity

Christopher Floyd

BS '21, MPH '24

Internship in Kenya enriches Global Health Epidemiology personal journey