Office of Student Affairs
The Office of Student Affairs is located in suite 1700 SPH I.
Rachel Casanova, Director of Student Affairs
racacasa@umich.edu
Rachel oversees the School of Public Health Student Affairs Team which includes Admissions, Student Life, Careers and the Registrar. She works to support all students with academic accommodations and support, academic integrity, dispute resolution, and special projects related to academic and student affairs.
Student Care Support from the Student Affairs Team
If you (students, faculty, or staff) have a non-urgent student-related concern, including but not limited to academic difficulty, well-being, coaching support, and/or connection to university resources, please know you can reach out to the Student Affairs team. Our team will work directly with the student to provide appropriate support resources. The student does not need to be aware or give consent for you to submit your concern.
If you have any questions, please email sph.studentsupport@umich.edu.
Please view our Student Care Support resource page for more information.
If the student needs immediate support or you feel is at risk, call UMPD at 911 or 763-1131.
Learn more about the Student Affairs Team
Recruitment and Admissions
Recuirtment and Admissions inquires for MPH or MHSA, including the Population and Health Sciences (fully online) MPH program, should email sph-inquiries@umich.edu.
If you have questions related to the SOPHAS application process, contact the SOPHAS Customer Service team.
Mary Beth Carroll, Associate Director of Recruitment and Admissions
maryeli@umich.edu
Mary Beth oversees admissions processing and application review coordination for the degree programs administered through the Office of Student Affairs, and leads the overall recruitment strategy.
Joyce Pu, Admissions Processing Specialist
chihfpu@umich.edu
Joyce coordinates the graduate MPH/MHSA application processing. She also manages the I-20 verification and issuing process for matriculated MPH/MHSA students. Joyce comes to us from Rackham Graduate School where she worked for over eight years.
Karla Baker, Admissions Processing Specialist
kasbaker@umich.edu
Karla contributes to the graduation MPH/MHSA application processing as well as facilitates the undergraduate program application review. Karla has over 10 years of experience in higher education and has worked closely with college students as they navigate various student business.
Lynn Douglass, Graduate Recruitment Lead
734-647-2267
lynndoug@umich.edu
Lynn provides coaching to prospective and admitted public health students as they explore their next steps in pursuing a graduate degree in public health. She also coordinates recruitment attendance and outreach efforts as well as leads the volunteer current student Admissions Ambassador Program.
Student Life
Beth Cable, Student Success Coach
cableb@umich.edu | Schedule a Coaching Appointment
Beth offers one-on-one coaching, supports student communities, and assists with student life programming.
Career Development
The Careers Office provides a supportive environment for students to gain confidence in understanding their career goals, sharing about their skills and interests, and making meaningful connections within the public health field.
We offer services and programming regarding:
- Career Exploration: Discover public health career opportunities and decide which positions best align with your interests, motivations, and goals.
- Career Preparation: Learn skills in communicating about your experiences, interests, and skills in order to successfully navigate the internship & job search processes.
- Career Connections: Build meaningful connections with alumni, organization contacts, and employers in the public health field to support you in your career journey.
Students can reach the Careers team by emailing sph.jobs@umich.edu.
Ari Renda: Career Services Associate Director
arirenda@umich.edu
Ari leads the strategic direction of the Careers Office. They meet with SPH students, alumni, and employers; oversee program development; and facilitate career-related workshops and presentations. Ari’s goal for career services is to create inclusive and affirming environments where students experience holistic support throughout their career exploration and development process.
Maddie Houston: Career Services Coordinator
madroman@umich.edu
Maddie collaborates with SPH students through individual and group coaching on career development topics to support professional success.
Neika White, Employer Engagement Coordinator
ncwhite@umich.edu
Neika works to establish relationships between employers, students, and the School
of Public Health through workshops, virtual/in-person interviews, and 1:1 meetings
with students.
Stefani Anderson: Career Services Coordinator
stefa@umich.edu
Stefani collaborates with SPH students through individual and group coaching on career development topics to support professional success. She also leads out experiential learning, internship funding, and supports data needs.
Registrar
Students can reach the Registrar team by emailing sph.registrar@umich.edu.
Steve Molnar, Registrar
sjmiii@umich.edu
Steve is available to answer questions related to school and university policies, academic requirements, graduation, student records, registration, and enrollment.
Maya Conigliaro, Records and Curriculum Coordinator
mconig@umich.edu
Maya assists the Registar with records management and acadmic inquires.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) Embedded Counselor
Joe Rizzo, CAPS Embedded Counselor
M1519 SPH IEmail Joe Rizzo (joerizzo@med.umich.edu) for questions or to make a counseling appointment.
Joseph (Joe) Rizzo (Embedded Staff Member in School of Public Health) received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Palo Alto University in the summer of 2023 with an emphasis on Meditation & Mindfulness.
He is also a Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC). Joe’s clinical training has focused on college-aged populations at various community-based agencies. Prior to returning for his PhD, he worked at Mariners Inn, a shelter and treatment center for the unhoused in Detroit, and in private practice. Joe will be joining UM CAPS as the Embedded staff member in the School of Public Health. As a clinician, he approaches therapy with a strong sense of collaboration, openness, respect, and gratitude. Joe has been trained in numerous evidence-based treatment modalities, and generally speaking, his approach to therapy is in a culturally humble fashion that blends humanistic and feminist treatment modalities. Joe is excited and honored to work with, and support the folx who are committed to creating a healthier, more equitable world.