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.
Several groups within the school sponsor the awards by managing nominations and selecting winners. All recipients will then be recognized on April 23 at the Public Health Honors luncheon event.
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 Recipients: Simone Charles (faculty), Paula Vinales-Bowman (staff), Wadad Itani (student)
2023 Recipients: Melissa Creary (faculty), Dany Zemmel (staff), David Fuller, Jr. (student)
2022 Recipients: Kiran Szekeres (staff), Rachel Morgan (student)
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
Excellence in Public Engagement
New for 2025!
The SPH Public Engagement Award is designed to recognize outstanding and impactful
public engagement activity from tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty at the University
of Michigan School of Public Health.
Public engagement activities include media interviews, op-eds and other thought leadership,
providing testimony or serving on government or community advisory panels, offering
classes or talks directed at audiences outside the university community, and other
activities that directly engage the public.
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 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 Zawistowsk
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.
- 2024 Muslim Students in Public Health
- 2023 Environmental Health Student Association
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.
- 2024 DEI in Healthcare Summit and Case Competition
- 2023 Public Health Students of African Descent
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.
- 2024 Global Surgery Student Alliance
- 2023 Public Health Students of African Descent
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 La Salud
- 2023 University of Michigan Industrial Hygiene Student Association
Excellence in Practice Through Service-Student Award
This award shall recognize a student who has contributed significantly to public health practice through a deep commitment to service that reaches beyond the School of Public Health, embodying the School’s commitment to fostering equitable partnerships with individuals, communities, and/or organizations.
- 2024 Wadad Itani-Formerly known as Commitment to Service Award
- 2023 Kamara Gardner-Formerly known as Commitment to Service Award
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.
- 2024 Rachael Brooks
- 2023 Maya Rodemer
Rising Star
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.
- 2024 Darius Moore
- 2023 Soumik Purkayastha
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.
- 2024 Taylor Hall
- 2023 Jackie Edgemon