Student-community partnerships and training for public health futures!
Students in the Department of Public Health are at the center of a vibrant community on and off campus! Students work as Research Fellows with dedicated faculty who are leaders in their field to investigate cutting-edge public health issues as well as in partnership with local public health leaders to gain invaluable career building experiences that will last a lifetime.
In the above video, three of our Public Health Peer Advisors, Ezra Torres, Joy Peters, and Justina Quock, share what makes Public Health so special! These students are three of eight Peer Advisors who work to build community and support other students in their Public Health learning and careers.
Beyond campus, students also have many opportunities to engage in hands-on public health work. One such opportunity is the Valeriote Goldman Public Health Leadership Program, which has paired almost 60 students over the past 8 years with high level Public Health experts, including non profit Executive Directors and CEOs of health organizations, for a nine month immersive leadership training. Students receive advanced leadership skills-building and career preparation, with a paid 300 hour summer internship (that often turns into a job offer!) at the center of their nine month training.
Valeriote Goldman Leadership Program Fellows from the 2023-24 Cohort after a poster presentation of their community projects, shown with Sue Valeriote and Ken Goldman, College of Arts and Sciences Dean Daniel Press, organizational mentors, and Public Health faculty and staff.
Faculty mentoring is another component of our Public Health community and provides ongoing, individualized guidance for each of our students during their time at SCU and beyond. In the words of Dr. Amia Nash, SCU Public Health class of 2015, who is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health:
"My mom is an immigrant from the Philippines [and] my education is my greatest privilege. I know I would not be where I am today without my formative experience in Public Health at SCU and my mentors who saw my potential, advocated for me, and supported me in my success. Thank you!"
Thank you for your support as we help support our students' success every day. We couldn’t do this without you!
Sonja Mackenzie
Chair and Professor, Public Health Department
| Rank | State | Gifts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AZ | 1 |
| 1 | HI | 1 |
| 1 | CA | 1 |
