News Release

UM SPH recognizes degree candidates from the class of 2005, introduces a new dean, and presents annual awards.

May 2, 2005 press release from the University of Michigan School of Public Health

At the April 29 convocation ceremony held in the Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor, degree candidates from the University of Michigan School of Public Health class of 2005 were recognized, and 233 were present at the ceremony. Noreen M. Clark, dean of the school, presided.

"This is a particularly meaningful evening for me," noted Dean Clark, "as it is the last time that as dean I will congratulate the school’s newest graduates. After ten years as dean, in July I will be returning to my first love, public health research, to lead a new Center for Managing Chronic Disease. My colleague Ken Warner will become our new dean, and he will do a wonderful job. Please join me in congratulating him."

Dr. William W. McGuire, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of UnitedHealth Group, delivered the commencement address. Dr. McGuire invited the degree candidates to join those professionals who lead and make a difference in the world: "Our aspirations and actions must be bold, our pace must express urgency, and we must continually remind ourselves of the human suffering around us – and our responsibility to help resolve it."

Student remarks and annual awards

A tradition at SPH convocation is for graduating students to address their classmates and guests.

Joy Padilla of the Asian American Public Health Association and Melanie Briones of La Salud jointly spoke of learning the meaning of collaboration: "In some instances, it meant facing the challenge of not meeting eye to eye with group members; while during other moments, it meant meeting a compromise, reaching a consensus so that you could move forward with the task at hand."

Dana Thomas, a student representative on the SPH advisory committee on academic programs, presented the Excellence in Teaching Award to Robert Wolfe, professor of Biostatistics. "Former students credit Dr. Wolfe’s style and approach with their current achievement in a wide variety of academic endeavors," Thomas said.

Darrell Hudson of Public Health Students of African Descent presented the Excellence in Research Award to Marc Zimmerman, professor and chair of Health Behavior and Health Education. "When Dr. Zimmerman is not editing a journal or meeting with faculty or directing a center or teaching a class, or being a father and husband, he’s mentoring and devoting time to students like me who have a list of questions about the School of Public Health," Hudson said. "As a researcher, Dr. Zimmerman recognizes how critical it is to train and develop new scientists who will become future public health leaders."

After presentation of the students' degrees, Professor Martin Philbert and graduating student Hassan Halawany offered words of thanks to the outgoing dean, Noreen Clark.

Contact: Terri Mellow, director of communications
Phone: (734) 764-8094
E-mail: twm@umich.edu

SPH's outgoing dean, Noreen Clark, led the procession, together with incoming dean Ken Warner.

Students Joy Padilla and Melanie Briones spoke jointly on collaboration.

Robert Wolfe received the 2005 Excellence in Teaching award.

Marc Zimmerman received the 2005 Excellence in Research award.

Smiles from the class of 2005.