Environmental Health Sciences

Pedro Sancha in his office

Leading global impact through science, partnership and innovation

Q&A with Pedro Sancha, President and CEO of NSF

Pedro Sancha, President and CEO of NSF, discusses leading a global public health organization born at the University of Michigan School of Public Health in 1944. Serving on Michigan Public Health’s Dean's Advisory Board, Sancha shares how NSF’s 5,000 experts across 110 countries use science-based standards to tackle emerging threats like PFAS and microplastics, keeping families safe through food and water safety innovation rooted in Ann Arbor.

Andrew Hoover

On a fast track to environmental health leadership

Andrew Hoover, BS ’24, MS ’25

Michigan Public Health’s Accelerated Master’s program allowed Andrew Hoover to earn both his Bachelor of Science in Public Health Sciences and Master of Science in Environmental Health Sciences in five years. Inspired by Flint’s water crisis, he balanced rigorous coursework with student leadership, research, and teaching while studying environmental justice issues.

Mrinalini Gupta

Advocating innovative solutions for global water crisis

Mrinalini Gupta, MPH ’25

Mrinalini Gupta studied issues related to water and waterborne disease. Mrinalini recently worked with the Center of Molecular Dynamics Nepal, a prominent nongovernmental institution dedicated to public health innovation and intervention research, to advance projects related to vaccine campaign assessment, zoonotic disease surveillance, antimicrobial resistance, and mapping of key populations.

From left, Katie Romas, holding their daughter and her husband, AJ Pope, holding their son

US Coast Guard officer navigates path to public health

Katie Romas, MPH ’25

Working with the Coast Guard’s Incident Management Assist Team, Katie Romas tackled real-world challenges, ranging from hurricane response to oil spills. These situations required her to coordinate efforts with other agencies, writing safety plans and minimizing environmental impact. She often found herself impressed by the work of industrial hygienists, the specialists who ensure the safety of responders and subsequently the environment during emergencies.

Devon Payne-Sturges

Championing change in environmental health science policy

Devon Payne-Sturges

Devon Payne-Sturges, professor of Environmental Health Sciences and University Diversity and Social Transformation Professor, has never been one to shy away from complex or controversial environmental health issues—she embraces them head-on. In fact, her pursuit motivated her to change careers, go back to school, and ultimately make her way to Ann Arbor after a distinguished career on the East Coast.

Kate O'Brien

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

Kate O’Brien, MPH ’24

The decision to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Michigan School of Public Health was not a straightforward choice for Kate O’Brien, MPH ’24. She will graduate in May with a Master of Public Health degree in Environmental Health Promotion and Policy, which perfectly captures her interests in environmental health, health behavior and health policy.