School of Public Health Annual Awards
The University of Michigan School of Public Health sponsors several annual awards to recognize outstanding achievements and support a culture of celebrating one another's individual contributions to our community and beyond.
Please join us on April 24 at Palmer Commons as we honor our outstanding School of Public Health students, faculty and staff for all their accomplishments during the 2023-2024 academic year. The awards ceremony and reception will be held in the Great Lakes room. This event is by invitation only.
Excellence in Teaching Award
This award recognizes faculty members who have made an exceptional contribution to teaching and mentoring School of Public Health students. Nominations may be made by faculty or students.
2024 Recipient: Bill Lopez
2023 Recipient: Emily Youatt
2022 Recipient: Matt Zawistowski
Excellence in Research Award
This award recognizes outstanding scholarly or creative activity from our faculty (tenure or primary research track) in basic or applied research in public health which helps to fulfill the mission of the school.
2024 Recipient: Justin Colacino
2023 Recipient: Betsy Foxman
2022 Recipient: Peter Song
Excellence in Practice Award
This award recognizes a leader in public health practice at Public Health who has contributed significantly to experiential learning for students, to building capacity of the public health workforce, and to fostering meaningful, sustainable community-academic partnerships.
2024 Recipient: Simone Charles
2023 Recipient: Barbara Israel
2022 Recipient: Dana Thomas
Feingold Excellence in Diversity Award
The School of Public Health’s Eugene Feingold Excellence in Diversity Award helps celebrate the legacy of public health leader and social activist Eugene Feingold. Feingold was professor of Health Management and Policy at Michigan Public Health and was active in community organizations concerned with civil liberties, poverty, and racial discrimination.
Established in 2004, the Feingold Award recognizes and honors faculty, staff, and students who champion diversity efforts throughout the school and contribute positively to an environment of inclusion.
2024 Staff Recipient: Paula Vinales-Bowman
2024 Student Recipient: Wadad Itani
2024 Faculty Recipient: Simone Charles
2023 Staff Recipient: Dany Zemmel
2023 Student Recipient: David Fuller, Jr.
2023 Faculty Recipient: Melissa Creary
2022 Staff Recipient: Kiran Szekeres
2022 Student Recipient: Rachel Morgan
Outstanding GSI Award
This award recognizes graduate student instructors (GSIs) who have made an outstanding contribution to teaching and mentoring School of Public Health students. Nominations may be made by faculty or students.
2024 Recipient: Akilah Patterson
2023 Recipient: Marcus Andrews
2022 Recipient: Molly Green
Student Organization Awards
Student Organization of the Year: This award will be given to a student organization within UM-SPH that has positively contributed to the overall culture and community at SPH. This organization should have positively enhanced the student experience.
Outstanding Event of the Year Award: This award will be granted to a student organization in recognition of their efforts to develop, plan, and implement an event that made significant contributions to the SPH community. Events of any type are eligible (i.e., educational, cultural, or social). However, the event must have been open to the entire UM-SPH community to qualify for this award.
Community Engagement Award: This award will be given to a student organization that has fostered community engagement through service activities, fundraising, advocacy, or other such activities.
Rising Organization Award: This award shall be presented to a new or recently revitalized student organization that has made significant contributions to the UM‐SPH community and demonstrates the potential for continuing to enrich student life at UM‐SPH.
2024 Recipients
- Community Engagement: Global Surgery Student Alliance
- Outstanding Event of the Year: DEI in Healthcare Summit and Case Competition
- Rising Organization: La Salud
- Student Organization of the Year: Muslim Students in Public Health
2023 Recipients
- Community Engagement: Public Health Students of African Descent
- Outstanding Event of the Year: Public Health Students of African Descent
- Rising Organization: University of Michigan Industrial Hygiene Student Association
- Student Organization of the Year: Environmental Health Student Association
Individual Student Awards
Student Leader of the Year Award: This award shall be presented to an individual who has held a leadership position in a Public Health student organization and made exemplary contributions to their organization and the Public Health community more broadly. This award should be granted to someone who has demonstrated strong leadership skills and a commitment to treating all with respect and dignity.
Rising Star Award: This award shall be presented to a student who has made significant contributions to a Public Health student organization. They show a great deal of potential for continued enrichment in public health.
Unsung Hero Award: This award shall be presented to an individual who might not hold a formal leadership position in their student organization but who has demonstrated a commitment to their student organization and student life at UM-SPH more generally and whose contributions have significantly enhanced the UM-SPH community.
Commitment to Service Award: This award shall be presented to an individual who has demonstrated a strong commitment to service beyond the School of Public Health. This person embodies the School of Public Health’s commitment to fostering equitable partnerships with individuals, communities, and organizations.
2024 Recipients
- Rising Star: Darius Moore
- Student Leader of the Year: Rachael Brooks
- Unsung Hero: Taylor Hall
- Commitment to Service: Wadad Itani
2023 Recipients
- Commitment to Service: Kamara Gardner
- Rising Star: Soumik Purkayastha
- Student Leader of the Year: Maya Rodemer
- Unsung Hero: Jackie Edgemon