Congratulations to Andrew M. Snyder, MPH, BSN, Ph.D. candidate, CPH outreach program director, who was awarded the Ohio Public Health Association’s Distinguished Achievement in Health Equity Service at an awards ceremony on April 25, 2023, in Columbus.  “Snyder’s commitment to promoting health equity and removing systemic and structural barriers that have resulted in health inequities for marginalized communities is truly inspiring,” said Sonia Alemagno, Ph.D., dean of the College of Public Health who nominated Snyder. His dedication, passion, and expertise make him an inspiration to t...

Since she was little, Anaya Spencer has experienced the value of the community. Like her grandmother, who ran a home daycare in the inner city of Cleveland, and her mother, a nurse and community health worker, she has devoted herself to serving communities that face injustices. Her commitment has led her to serve on the executive board of multiple student organizations, and to educate community members about social issues. Now, following her family legacy, Spencer will pursue her passion for championing Black maternal and infant health and equity as Kent State University’s 2023-2024 Newman ...

CPH graduate student's legacy will live on through helping others. Timothy Mikes was a CPH graduate student committed to public health, and a champion for  the autistic community and students with learning disabilities. Future public health students will follow in his footsteps, thanks to a scholarship established in his honor. Mikes’ parents, Gerri and Tom, created an endowment to establish the Timothy Mikes College of Public Health Memorial Scholarship in memory of their son, who unexpectedly passed away in January 2023.  “Tim was a passionate advocate for learning disabl...

Blaine McCurdy joined Kent State’s Rising Scholars program in sixth grade after learning about the program and its opportunities for a college education in Columbiana County where he lives. Blaine, who is a first-generation college student, is now in his junior year at Kent State University at Salem studying psychology. The Rising Scholars Program, one on each Kent State campus, combines mentoring with assistance from local communities and businesses to provide support for young adults beginning in seventh grade. The program allows them to maximize their all-important high school years and ...

Sara Bayramzadeh, Ph.D., The Elliot Professor in Healthcare Design in the College of Architecture and Environmental Design was featured in Healthcare Design magazine for her leadership in the healthcare design program. Bayramzadeh’s approach to the curriculum requires students to find a practice-based mentor who specializes in their area of interest. Students meet with their mentors throughout the semester to learn from their real-world expertise and expand their professional networks. Her efforts to immerse students in practice has manifested in other ways, too. For example, in 2021 she...