SPH Alumni Society Board
Since its founding in 1982, the School of Public Health Alumni Society Board has served as a vital connection between SPH and its alumni community. For more than 40 years, the Board has advanced its mission of building an alumni-centered culture by fostering meaningful connections among alumni, students, faculty, and the broader SPH community.
SPH Alumni Society Board
Today, the SPH Alumni Society Board serves as a key partner in advancing the School’s alumni engagement strategy. Board members help strengthen lifelong connections to SPH by supporting opportunities for alumni and students to connect, engage, learn, and grow. Through their leadership, advocacy, and service, members help ensure alumni perspectives remain an important part of the SPH community and contribute to a strong, connected alumni network.
Mission
Build an alumni centered culture within the SPH community by fostering connections among alumni, faculty and students.
Vision
Alumni will enjoy lifelong engagement and pride in the SPH and will actively support endeavors of the school and fellow alumni.
Goals
- Connect – Create opportunities for meaningful connections between alumni, faculty/staff, students and professional partners.
- Develop – Foster a community of engaged alumni and students.
- Recognize – Acknowledge and honor the achievements of SPH alumni and students.
- Collaborate – Work together to make a positive impact in public health to advance the SPH brand and the value of a public health degree.
The Board’s work includes creating meaningful opportunities for SPH alumni to connect and engage through events, volunteer opportunities, alumni awards, lifelong learning, career development and more.
Contact sph-alum@umn.edu for more details.
2026-2027 Executive Officers
President
Sonja Ausen MPH ’17 (Maternal and Child Health)
Minnesota Department of Health
Grant Manager: Family Home Visiting
Minneapolis, MN
Vice-President
Alumni Ambassadors Committee Co-Chair
Olusola Adegoke, MPH ‘11 (Public Health Administration and Policy)
HealthPartners
Family Medicine Hospitalist
Stillwater, MN
Past President
Kim McCoy, MPH ‘97, MS ’07, (Public Health Administration, Health Services Research, Policy & Administration)
Stratis Health
Senior Program Manager
Minneapolis, MN
Mentor Committee Chair
Kari Moore, MPH ‘04 (Community Health Education)
White Bear Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director
Oakdale, MN
Secretary
Alumni Ambassadors Committee Co-Chair
Janelle Peralez Gunn, MPH ’03 (Public Health Nutrition)
CDC – DNPAO
Associate Director for Policy, Partnerships, & Communications
Atlanta, GA
Engagement Committee Co-Chair
Melissa Ugland, MPH ’98 (Maternal and Child Health)
Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center
Public Health Advisor
Milwaukee, WI
Engagement Committee Co-Chair
Toni Toledo, MPH ’98 (Public Health Nutrition)
San Jose State University and Innovative Health Solutions
Campbell, CA
At-Large Directors
Elizabeth Allen, MPH ‘11, PhD ‘14 (Environmental Health)
St. Catherine University
Associate Professor
Saint Paul, MN
Jill Dreyfus, PhD ‘13 (Epidemiology)
Innovation Consortium
Senior Director of Evidence Generation
Stillwater, MN
Alicia Jackson, MS ’22 (Health Services Research, Policy, & Administration)
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota
Principal Healthcare Analyst
Minneapolis, MN
Christopher Johnson, PhD ‘98 (Health Service Research, Policy & Administration)
Georgia State University, Robinson College of Business
Professor of Health Administration and Director of the Institute of Health Administration
Atlanta, GA
Thuy Kim, PhD ’23 (Environmental Health)
U.S. Public Health Service
Lieutenant
Saint Paul, MN
Craig Meyer, MPH ’10, MS ’13, PhD ’16 (Environmental Health, Biostatistics, Epidemiology)
Jassen Pharmaceuticals
Principal Scientist
San Francisco, CA
Dawn Sibanda, MPH ‘11 (Public Health Practice)
Genentech
Medical Director
San Mateo, CA
Trisha Wood, MPH ’04 (Public Health Administration and Policy)
Independent Consultant
Seattle, WA
Jessica Whitten, MHA ‘12 (Healthcare Administration)
Fairview Health Services, Neuroscience Service Line
Director
Maple Grove, MN
Jake Phillips, BA ‘25 (Public Health)
Dakota County Public Health
Coordinator
Minneapolis, MN
Elizabeth Valitchka, MPH ‘13 (Maternal and Child Health)
Secretary’s Office, State of Wisconsin Department of Children and Families
Strategic Communication and Policy Advisor
Middleton, WI
Kelly Bacorn, MHA ‘21 (Healthcare Administration)
Huron
Senior Director
San Diego, CA
Anne Li, MPH ‘19 (Public Health Administration and Policy)
Wilder Research
Research Associate
Falcon Heights, MN
