Environmental Health Sciences

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.

Jourdan Clements

Encompassing equity and elements of public health

Jourdan Clements

After earning a bachelor’s degree, Clements began working toward a master’s degree in Ecosystem Science and Management from the School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS). She then was inspired to pursue a Master of Public Health in Environmental Health Sciences because of her passion to understand how environmental issues impact human health.

Brianna Siracuse, Master’s Student in Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health

Shaping Science-Based Policy to Prevent Breast Cancer

Brianna Siracuse

Reading environmental literature was a call to action for master’s student Brianna Siracuse, whose background is in chemistry and toxicology. As a public health student at Michigan, she is bringing together environmental health sciences with policy work to improve health and safety for all.