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SPH Alumni Society & Associations

School of Public Health Alumni Society

Former students of the School of Public Health, including persons granted degrees under departments of the School of Public Health through the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies, and faculty, are automatically considered members of the School of Public Health Alumni Society. Find out what your SPH Alumni Society is all about on this webpage.

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Alumni Society Mission & Membership; Nominations for Board

The mission of the Alumni Society is to:

  • Stimulate and promote membership interest in the School of Public Health and the University of Michigan.
  • Provide an organized and ongoing means of attracting outstanding student candidates to the School of Public Health.
  • Heighten membership to awareness of the problems and progress of the School of Public Health, so that members are better able to assist in advancing the program of education.
  • Cooperate with university officials to meet both SPH and UM needs for support from public and private sources.
  • Increase communication and fellowship among those who teach and those who practice in the profession of public health.

Members of the School of Public Health Alumni Society include:

  • All SPH alumni and former students, including persons granted degrees under departments of the School of Public Health through the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies.
  • Past and present faculty of the School of Public Health.
  • Persons granted degrees in public health or hygiene by UM prior to the establishment of the School of Public Health.
  • Other persons who have demonstrated an interest in the School of Public Health; such membership is by invitation of the Board of Governors of the Society or upon application to and with approval of a majority of the Board.

Nominations for candidates for Alumni Board of Governors:

The University of Michigan School of Public Health Alumni Society invites nominations for candidates for its Board of Governors. There are twelve elected members whose three-year terms of service are staggered, creating four seats that are available each year. Elected board members attend two meetings a year and support the School in efforts aimed at continuing the tradition of excellence at UM SPH.

The slate is determined at the Fall meeting of the Alumni Board of Governors and an election follows during the winter. Newly elected members of the Public Health Alumni Society Board of Governors assume office in the spring. Nominations are accepted throughout the year.

To place a name in nomination, please submit a resume (or name and title of the nominee) along with a statement (100 words or less) explaining why the nominee is an outstanding candidate for the board. Send nominations to:

University of Michigan School of Public Health
Alumni Relations
109 South Observatory Street #3508
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029
FAX: 734-763-5455

E-mail: sph.alumni@umich.edu

Past Alumni Society Governors (52 KB, PDF)*

UM SPH Alumni Society Constitution & By-Laws

The purposes of the Society shall be:

  • To stimulate among its membership a continuance of interest in the School of Public Health and the University of Michigan.
  • To provide an instrument for organized effort to encourage a continued flow of outstanding student candidates for the School of Public Health.
  • To furnish an avenue through which the membership may become intimately familiar with the problems and progress of the School of Public Health and thus be better enabled to assist in advancing the program of public health education.

Distinguished Alumni Award

The Distinguished Alumni Award was created to enable the Public Health Alumni Society to give recognition and honor to those alumni who have contributed outstanding service to the field of public health and to the University of Michigan School of Public Health. One or more individuals may receive a Distinguished Alumni Award in a given academic year. Persons may not be nominated posthumously for this award.

Award Guidelines (abbreviated)

Nominees for the awards shall be considered based upon their contributions to the University of Michigan School of Public Health and to the field of public health. Examples of contributions to the School might include service to the Public Health Alumni Society and/or its Board of Governors, financial support, or efforts related to the school's admissions and placement activities, including internships. Examples of contributions to the field of public health might include scholarly achievements, professional leadership positions in the field, or progress on a significant public health issue. In selecting award recipients, special emphasis will be placed on aspects of service to the Public Health Alumni Society. The award is intended to honor actively practicing public health professionals. Current members of the Public Health Alumni Society Board of Governors are not eligible for the award.

Distinguished Alumni Nomination Form (98 KB, PDF)*

Past Distinguished Alumni Award Recipients

  • Glenn Fosdick, M.H.S.A. '76 (2007)
  • Bailus Walker, M.P.H. '59 (2006)
  • Lisa Gordon-Haggerty, M.P.H. '68 (2005)
  • John Henshaw, M.P.H. '74 (2002)
  • John F. Maassab, ' Ph.D. 56 (2001)
  • Ralph Cook, M.P.H. '71 (2000)
  • Pat Warner, M.P.H. '77 (1999)
  • Bobby Pestronk, M.P.H.'79 (1997)
  • Richard Lichtenstein, M.P.H. '70 ,PhD '81 (1996)
  • Larry G. Gordon, M.P.H. '54 (1995)
  • Vernice Davis Anthony, M.P.H. 76 (1994)
  • Gloria Richardson Smith, M.P.H. '59 (1993) Maurice Reizen, M.S.P.H. '46 (1991)
  • E. Frank Ellis, M.P.H. '68 (1991).

Romani Award

Named in honor of Professor Emeritus John Romani, this biennial award recognizes UM SPH alumni who have demonstrated outstanding career accomplishments as evidenced by such indications as:

  • Service as a public health leader
  • Visibility in a prominent role in the field
  • Commitment in serving the public
  • Having made a significant contribution to the field through establishment of new programs, creation of distinctive responses to needs in public health, or other comparable attainments.

Nominations may be made by any School of Public Health alumnus/alumna, present or former faculty, present or former staff, or current student. Current members of the School of Public Health Alumni Society Board of Governors are not eligible for the award. Nominations shall address the selection criteria. Supporting materials such as an up-to-date resume or curriculum vitae, if available, should be sent with the nomination. The Alumni Society Awards Committee shall recommend to the Public Health Alumni Society Board of Governors the award candidate(s). The Board shall vote and the chair of the Public Health Alumni Society Board of Governors shall notify the recipient(s).

Romani Award Nomination Form*

Past Romani Award Recipients

Other Associations

Department of Health Management and Policy Alumni Association
Graduates of the Department of Health Management and Policy (MCO, HSMP, PHPA, etc.) can become members of the HMP Alumni Society.

Alumni Association of the University of Michigan
Anyone who is a graduate of the University of Michigan may become a member of the Alumni Association. There is an annual fee.

* For PDFs: You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to view the forms. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, you may download it (free of charge) from Adobe's Web site.