SPH Alumni Society

Since its inception in 1982, the School of Public Health Alumni Society has worked to serve alumni and students, promote excellence in programs, and advance public health efforts in our community and in the world. The society’s first elected board of directors convened in September 1983. The board has been active for more than 30 years with a mission to build an alumni-centered culture within the SPH community by fostering connections among alumni, faculty, and students.

SPH Alumni Board

The SPH Alumni Society Board leads ongoing efforts to provide lifelong learning, networking and growth opportunities for our alumni.

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

  1. Connect. Create opportunities for meaningful connections between alumni, faculty/staff, students and professional partners.
  2. Develop. Foster a community of engaged alumni and students.
  3. Recognize. Acknowledge and honor the achievements of SPH alumni and students.
  4. Collaborate. Work together to make a positive impact in public health to advance the SPH brand and the value of a public health degree.

Our work includes alumni and volunteer engagement, student engagement and support, alumni recognition, and advocacy for University legislative requests.

Contact sph-alum@umn.edu for more details.

2023-2024 Executive Officers

President
Susan Leppke, MPH ’07 (public health administration and policy)
AABB
Senior Director, Public Policy & Strategic Partnerships

Kim McCoy

Vice-President
Alumni Ambassadors Committee Co-Chair
Kim McCoy, MS ’07 (health services research, policy & administration)
Stratis Health
Senior Program Manager

Liesl Hargens smiling for the camera.

Past President
Liesl Hargens, MPH ’07 (epidemiology)
Boston Scientific
Senior Director of Health Economics

Alicen Burns Spaulding

Secretary
Alicen Burns Spaulding, PhD ’13 (epidemiology)
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Senior Advisor and Team Lead, PREMISE

Sonja Ausen

Alumni Ambassadors Committee Chair
Sonja Ausen MPH ’17 (maternal and children health)

Picture Impact
Director of Operations

Deborah Caselton

Engagement Committee Chair
Deborah Caselton Trahan, MPH ’09 (maternal & child health)
Mayo Clinic
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

At-Large Directors

Palak Bothra MPH ’18
University of Minnesota
Dental Data Analyst

Tim Fries MPH ’20
Optometric Management Group
Chief Visionary Officer/Partner

Jessica Kinowski, MPH ’06 (community health education)
Cigna HealthSpring
Clinical Program Director

Raymond Thron, PhD ’75, MS ’71 (environmental health)
Laureate Education
Professor

Ania Urban, PhD ’12, MPH ’09 (environmental health)
Cardno ChemRisk
Senior Supervising Health Scientist

Stephen Waldhoff, MHA ’76
Mayo Clinic
Emeritus Chief Administrative Officer

Heather Weinreich, MPH ’05 (epidemiology)
University of Illinois at Chicago
Assistant Professor

Lori Wukawitz, MHA ’19
Boston Scientific
Senior Manager, Health Economics and Market Access

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